New York attorney general Letitia James has filed a lawsuit against former president Trump and three of his children, alleging business fraud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The move by James’ office comes on the heels of a years-long civil investigation into the Trump family’s real estate business, the Trump Organization. The investigation has centered on whether the former president\u2019s company misled investors and tax authorities by inflating property values to get investments and subsequently deflating them to get tax and loan benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The lawsuit also targets Trump’s three adult children: Eric, Ivanka, and Donald Jr. who have all held senior executives at the Trump Organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The New York AG’s lawsuit comes after she rejected an offer from the former president\u2019s legal team to settle the civil investigation into his business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the case goes to trial and Trump loses, a judge could potentially impose financial penalties and restrict the former president\u2019s business operations in New York \u2014 all potentially in the midst of a 2024 presidential campaign that he is expected to join.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is possible that James, as part of her lawsuit, could seek to curtail Trump\u2019s Manhattan real estate portfolio, though she has given mixed signals publicly about what sort of punishment she will seek to impose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump has long dismissed the investigation as a \u201cphony years-long crusade\u201d against him and criticized James for the inquiry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cToday\u2019s filing is neither focused on the facts nor the law \u2014 rather, it is solely focused on advancing the Attorney General\u2019s political agenda,\u201d Alina Habba, a Trump attorney who has represented the former president in New York-based and Trump Organization litigation. \u201cIt is abundantly clear that the Attorney General\u2019s Office has exceeded its statutory authority by prying into transactions where absolutely no wrongdoing has taken place. We are confident that our judicial system will not stand for this unchecked abuse of authority, and we look forward to defending our client against each and every one of the Attorney General\u2019s meritless claims.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n