NY attorney general files motion to hold former US President Donald Trump in contempt

By Darren Lyn

HOUSTON, Texas (AA) - New York Attorney General Letitia James is asking a judge to hold former US President Donald Trump in civil contempt, according to a court filing on Thursday.

James said Trump did not comply with a judge’s order to hand over all subpoenaed documents to her office, or the OAG, regarding an investigation concerning allegations the Trump Organization inflated financial statements during a two-year period.

“But rather than ‘comply in full’ with the court’s unambiguous directive by producing all responsive documents by March 31, Mr. Trump did not comply at all,” James said in the court documents.

“Mr. Trump further asserted … that he would not produce any documents responsive to OAG’s subpoena because his counsel … could not find any such documents,” said the filing, “and because of his counsel’s ‘information and belief’ that if any such documents exist, the Trump Organization has them and OAG will just have to wait until the Trump Organization completes its production to get them.”

James is investigating whether to file a civil suit against the Trump Organization, saying in court filings that it has “uncovered substantial evidence establishing numerous misrepresentations in Mr. Trump’s financial statements provided to banks, insurers, and the Internal Revenue Service.”

The attorney general is asking the judge to fine Trump $10,000 every day until the former president hands over all subpoenaed records and documents.

“Mr. Trump’s purported ‘Response’ violates the court’s order; it is not full compliance, or any degree of compliance, but simply more delay and obfuscation,” said James.

The Trump Organization has denied any wrongdoing but said it is “on track” to meet an April 15 deadline to hand over all relevant documents to the OAG in compliance with the subpoena.