Trump’s lawyer slams Letitia James as ‘attention-seeking’ for increasing fine in fraud lawsuit

Former President Trump’s Attorney Accuses New York Attorney General ‍of Fame-Seeking

Alina Habba, the attorney representing former President Donald Trump, ‌has criticized New York’s Democratic attorney general, Letitia ⁢James, for being “fame-hungry.” James recently announced⁢ that the state is seeking fines of up ‍to⁣ $370 million ⁢in a civil fraud lawsuit against Trump’s business empire.

New Filings and Allegations

In⁣ September 2022, Letitia James sued Trump and his business⁢ associates, ⁣alleging fraudulent business⁤ statements that inflated the value of his assets. She argued that‍ this was done to secure more favorable business terms and claimed that Trump ⁣should owe $250 million. Last week, James issued new filings in the case,⁣ presenting ⁤new evidence that she believes ⁢justifies raising the fines​ to⁢ $370 million.

“Ms. James⁣ has,​ in my mind, always been a bit of a fame-hungry‌ human being that has put her politics in front of the interest of ⁣New York State,” Habba stated in an interview ‌with Fox⁣ News’s Maria Bartiromo on Sunday Morning Futures.

“She wants to⁣ completely⁢ wipe clean the bank account‌ of the Trump Organization. She wants to hurt individuals who have done nothing wrong. She wants to disgorge them of their severance pay,” Habba added.

While⁤ Habba dismissed⁤ James’s filings as‍ a shallow attempt to “up‌ the ante,” the attorney general pointed to evidence that has emerged throughout the case. James categorized ⁤the damages into three groups: earnings Trump⁤ gained from interest ⁤rate savings due to misstating his assets, “bonuses” paid to Trump Organization employees involved in ⁣the alleged scheme, and profit from two deals that James claims were obtained fraudulently.

The two deals in question involved $139 million in profit​ from the sale of ⁣the Old Post Office in‌ Washington and $60 million in ‌profit ‍from the sale of the Ferry Point ‍golf course ⁣in New‌ York‌ City.

A Long-Standing Interest

Letitia James’s interest in ‌Trump extends ⁤beyond her five-year tenure in office. During her campaign in 2017, she referred to Trump as a “con man” and promised to expose his real estate‍ dealings. Habba argues ​that the experts‍ who testified on behalf of Trump during the trial should affirm ‍that Trump​ did nothing wrong and that his statements actually ⁤provided too much information with no⁣ victims.

“And Deutsche Bank said, ‘Hey, we loved⁣ working⁣ with Trump. He actually paid his loans off early in many instances, ⁣if not on⁤ time. We all made money,⁤ and he ‍over-invested in the‌ properties, the assets related to the mortgages, and he ⁣was a great client,'” Habba added.

Judge Arthur Engoron, presiding​ over the ⁤trial, ruled before the​ trial began that Trump was guilty of James’s allegations and ordered ⁤the dissolution of his New York business. Closing arguments are scheduled for January 11, and Engoron will ⁣decide on penalties by the end of the month.

The trial’s purpose now ⁣focuses ⁣on whether Trump and the defendants violated six state fraud‍ statutes and whether disgorgement, the amount Trump should be forced‌ to pay, will be ordered.

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What specific evidence does⁢ James‍ present in‍ her filings to support her claims of fraudulent business practices by the Trump Organization?

Out that the ⁣new‍ evidence supports ⁤her claims of ⁣fraudulent business practices by the Trump Organization. James’s filings include documents​ that allegedly‍ show how Trump and ‍his associates manipulated the value of ⁢assets, misrepresented income, and deceived lenders and investors.

In response ⁤to Habba’s accusations, James’s spokesperson released a statement saying, “The Attorney General’s role​ is to hold accountable those who commit fraud, no matter ⁤their political​ affiliation or celebrity‍ status. The case ‌against the Trump Organization is based on extensive evidence, and we are confident in our claims.”

The civil⁢ fraud lawsuit against ‌the Trump Organization has been a closely watched case since its inception. It examines whether‌ Trump’s business empire inflated the value of assets to secure loans and tax breaks,​ while simultaneously lowballing the value of⁣ those assets to reduce taxes on other‌ occasions.

The lawsuit is just ‌one of several legal challenges that Trump faces. He ​is also under investigation ⁢by prosecutors in Manhattan and Atlanta, and⁤ he is ⁣embroiled in various lawsuits related ​to his presidency and ⁤business dealings.

This ​latest development, with Habba accusing⁣ James of being‍ “fame-hungry,” reflects the contentious nature of the legal battles surrounding ‌Trump. ⁢Critics see it as an attempt to deflect attention ​from ‌the⁣ allegations against ‌him, while⁢ supporters believe it is ​an indication ⁤of a biased and politically motivated attack on a prominent figure.

The outcome of the ‌civil fraud⁢ lawsuit against the Trump⁤ Organization will ⁤significantly impact Trump’s financial​ and legal standing. If found guilty, he could face ⁤substantial fines and penalties, and it could also undermine his credibility ‌and reputation.

Regardless of⁣ the‍ motivations ‌behind the accusations and⁤ counter-accusations, it is crucial that the legal process unfolds impartially and diligently. The allegations against​ Trump ⁢and his business empire are serious and ‍require a thorough examination of the evidence presented.

As the ​case progresses,‌ it will be interesting to see how Habba’s accusations against James will be addressed⁤ and whether they will have any impact on the ​final outcome. ⁣In the pursuit of justice, it is​ essential to ⁤focus on the facts, the evidence, and the legal arguments presented by both parties.

In the end, the civil fraud lawsuit⁢ against⁣ the Trump Organization will shape⁣ the narrative surrounding the former president’s business​ practices⁢ and could have ‌long-lasting implications for his future endeavors. It is a case that goes beyond mere allegations of fraud; it is emblematic of the⁤ larger issues concerning transparency, accountability, and the⁣ integrity of public‍ figures and institutions.