'New York AG saw something': Former federal prosecutor says new coordination in Trump Org. case is 'big move'
Legal experts and politicos flocked to Twitter upon the news that the New York attorney general is joining the criminal complaint against former President Donald Trump's New York company.
In a statement from Attorney General Letitia James' spokesperson, it was revealed that the Trump Organization was informed that they're now part of a New York criminal probe along with the financial probe from the district attorney.
Former New Jersey federal prosecutor Elie Honig told CNN's Don Lemon that the NYAG saw something and that's why they're joining the DA's case.
It was clearly "something that has led them to expand and change the nature of their investigation because going back to 2019, the New York attorney general has been in the civil lane not criminal while the D.A. has been in the criminal lane," said Honig. "Now the AG has seen something that's prompted them to make a decision to say, 'now we need to cross over and join you, district attorney's office, on the criminal side. That's a big move. We don't know what it is or what it was. I want to say this about the New York's attorney general's office, I've worked with them on various cases. They don't do every kind of crime. If there's one thing they specialize in, it's complex fraud, that's what they pride themselves on. It's in their wheelhouse so it's a significant development and certainly not good news for the Trump Organization."
Trump's people are refusing to comment.
See the video and other comments from experts below:
Trump is going to flip out.— Bradley P. Moss (@Bradley P. Moss) 1621389577
NY AG James was investigating civil tax issues at the Trump Org, as well as Deutsche Bank loans for Trump Tower Chicago and other Trump properties. That the probe is now \u201ccriminal in nature\u201d suggests the entire investigation has significantly escalated, not just a minor issue.— Robert J. DeNault (@Robert J. DeNault) 1621390485
NY AG has converted her investigation into Trump Organization into a criminal investigation. Could be very significant, including in the overall pressure on Allen Weisselberg. also general indication that the discrepancies are so flagrant as to suggest criminal intent.— Harry Litman (@Harry Litman) 1621389918
Another significant point: NY AG is working in cooperation with NY DA. They must be bringing something to the table with respect to the Trump Organization b/c normally the NY DA goes its own (criminal) way. And the offices have different styles.— Harry Litman (@Harry Litman) 1621390562
@AWeissmann_ making the salient point on @Lawrence : NY's Martin Act is incredibly broad. reaches almost everything the feds could reach in terms of tax, securities, and corporate fraud— Harry Litman (@Harry Litman) 1621391240
BREAKING- I see the Martin Act coming in to play as that gives the NY AG *criminal* jurisdiction.https://twitter.com/soniamoghe/status/1394832841683488768\u00a0\u2026— Andrew Weissmann (@Andrew Weissmann) 1621391397
Here we go. Bring the pain @TishJameshttps://twitter.com/drdenagrayson/status/1394835333020258306\u00a0\u2026— Andrew C Laufer, Esq (@Andrew C Laufer, Esq) 1621389883
The Trumps have never been \u201cpurely civil.\u201d\nBut in all seriousness, this is serious:\nActive criminal investigation.\n(Fwiw, Quo Warranto power to dissolve a corporation is a civil process. Get that going).https://twitter.com/soniamoghe/status/1394832841683488768\u00a0\u2026— Jed Shugerman (@Jed Shugerman) 1621389842
A long time coming, but it has come.https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/1394837729641340929\u00a0\u2026— Neal Katyal (@Neal Katyal) 1621390604
Whoa ...https://twitter.com/soniamoghe/status/1394832841683488768\u00a0\u2026— digby (@digby) 1621390213
