Who is Letitia James and why did she sue Donald Trump?
New York AG Letitia James’ investigation into Donald Trump financial dealings has culminated with him being found liable for financial fraud.
Just as the GOP primary election is heating, Donald Trump, the frontrunner, has been found liable for financial fraud. Amid the numerous controversies surrounding the ex-president, including harassment lawsuits and the 2021 Capitol attack on January 6th, justice may finally catch up with him. On Tuesday, a judge in New York state approved Letitia James’ lawsuit in which she sued Trump, his three children, and two business partners for fraud. James is the Attorney General of New York.
Why was the lawsuit brought forward against Donald Trump?
The investigation lasted for over three years. During that time, James’ team meticulously worked to collect information on the wrongdoings of the Trump empire. As determined by the New York judge, over the course of Trump’s career, he had deceived various financial industries by overvaluing his assets and net worth to close deals and garner financing for other business ventures.
The investigation into Trump was plagued by numerous issues, with Trump himself actively and passively trying to boycott and halt it. During a deposition in August 2022, before the lawsuit was brought forward, Trump invoked the Fifth Amendment, giving him the right not to answer any questions under oath.
According to A.G. James, in financial statements provided to banks and insurers when looking to secure financing, Trump inflated his net worth between $2.23 and $3.6 billion. The assets that were among the most inflated were his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, his penthouse apartment in Trump Tower in Manhattan, and several other office complexes and golf courses.
Who is Letitia James?
Letitia James is a renowned American lawyer, activist, and politician. She is a registered Democrat and succeeded Barbara Underwood as the Attorney General of New York after being elected in 2018. James is the first Black woman to serve in the role, and she has not been afraid to shy away from confrontation, even when that means taking on members of her own party.
For instance, the work of James’ office led to the resignation of the former governor of New York, Andrew Como, in August 2021 after cases of sexual harassment were uncovered. Like Trump now, Cuomo has not hesitated to attack the prosecutor’s integrity. A few weeks ago, Cuomo filed an ethics complaint against James for the handling of the investigation that saw him ousted from the governor’s mansion and national politics.