Trump to face deposition in NY AG's financial probe

10 August 2022

Although Donald Trump has been gone from the White House since January 20, 2021, the former president continues to be the subject of a variety of probes and investigations — from the U.S. Department of Justice to Fulton County, Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis to the January 6 select committee. Trump has also been under the radar of New York State Attorney General Letitia James, whose office has been conducting a civil investigation of the Trump Organization’s finances. And this Wednesday, August 10, Trump is “expected to be deposed” by James’ office, according to CNN sources.

Reporter Kara Scannell, in an article published by CNN’s website on August 10, explains, “It is unclear whether Trump will answer questions or assert his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination during the behind-closed-doors testimony. Trump said, in a post on Truth Social early Wednesday morning, that he would be ‘seeing’ James ‘for a continuation of the greatest Witch Hunt in U.S. history! My great company, and myself, are being attacked from all sides. Banana Republic!’”

The deposition with James’ office comes only two days after the FBI executed a search warrant at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home in South Florida in connection with his handling of White House documents. James’ civil probe is separate from an ongoing criminal investigation of the Trump Organization that the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has been conducting.

Scannell reports, “Some Trump advisers have advocated that the former president answer questions since he previously testified about his financial statements under oath, while others have warned him against providing any answers because of the potential legal jeopardy he may face, people familiar with the matter tell CNN…. Trump’s testimony comes near the end of a long-running New York state investigation into whether the Trump Organization misled lenders, insurers and tax authorities by providing them misleading financial statements. In January, James’ office said it found ‘significant’ evidence indicating the Trump Organization used false or misleading asset valuations in its financial statements to obtain loans, insurance and tax benefits.”

Many far-right Trump supporters in the MAGA movement have joined him in claiming that Democrat James’ investigation of the Trump Organization’s finances is politically motivated, but James has maintained that her only motivation is the rule of law — not politics.

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