Donald Trump, his three children sued by New York firm for business fraud

NEW YORK — New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit Wednesday accusing former President Donald Trump, his three adult children and executives of his company of blatantly manipulating property valuations to defraud lenders, insurance Brokers and tax authorities so they can get better bank rates. loans and insurance policies, and reduce their tax liability.

The lawsuit asks the New York Supreme Court to bar Trump, as well as Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump and Eric Trump as executives of any company in New York, and to bar the Trump Organization from acquiring any commercial real estate or from any New York-registered financial institutions receive five-year loans.

It seeks to recover more than $250 million in ill-gotten gains that James’ office said were obtained through alleged fraud. While the lawsuit itself is not a criminal complaint, James (D) said she has referred possible violations of federal law to the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service.

The wide-ranging lawsuit is the result of more than two years of James’ investigation and lists 23 properties in the Trump Organization’s portfolio, including his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, his Wetches, N.Y. The Seven Springs estate in Texas County, and the DC hotel he leased from the federal government, didn’t sell until May.

That adds to a deepening list of legal challenges Trump faces more than 18 months after leaving the White House, while he remains active in Republican politics and has widely suggested he will run for president again in 2024.

Status of key investigation involving Donald Trump

In addition to personally naming Trump and his three children, the lawsuit names the Trump Organization and Alan Weisselberg, Trump’s longtime chief financial officer who recently pleaded guilty to tax crimes, and controller Jeffrey McConney.

Trump and his lawyers have argued that James’ investigation was politically motivated and have repeatedly said Trump and his family did nothing illegal in running their businesses. Pointing to statements made by James during the campaign that he promised to investigate him, Trump called her investigation a “witch hunt.”

This is a developing story. It will be updated.

O’Connell reported from Washington.

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