Faces deposition in New York AG James fraud lawsuit

Donald Trump stated he’s being deposed Thursday in New York Metropolis as a part of the state legal professional normal’s $250 million civil lawsuit alleging widespread fraud by the previous president and his firm.

Trump introduced on social media in a single day that he had “simply arrived in Manhattan for a deposition in entrance of” New York Lawyer Normal Letitia James as a part of the sweeping lawsuit.

In one other publish Thursday morning, Trump stated he was “heading downtown” to be deposed. He accused James of leaking that the appointment was scheduled at 9:30 a.m. ET.

His journey marks the second time in lower than two weeks that he has traveled to the Empire State to reply to courtroom actions in opposition to him. The ex-president faces a number of legal and civil proceedings as he makes a 3rd bid for the Republican presidential nomination.

Trump beforehand flew from his dwelling state of Florida to New York to give up to authorities following his indictment in a separate legal case centered on hush cash funds made earlier than the 2016 presidential election. The previous president pleaded not responsible to 34 counts of falsifying enterprise data in that case, which is being prosecuted by Manhattan District Lawyer Alvin Bragg.

Trump is “not solely keen but in addition desperate to testify earlier than the Lawyer Normal right now,” his legal professional, Alina Habba, advised CNBC in a press release. “He stays resolute in his stance that he has nothing to hide, and he appears to be like ahead to educating the Lawyer Normal concerning the immense success of his multi-billion greenback firm.”

James’ workplace didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

James filed the civil fraud lawsuit final September in opposition to Trump, three of his grownup youngsters, the Trump Group and others. The swimsuit accuses Trump of repeatedly overstating the values of his property in statements to banks, insurance coverage corporations and the IRS with a purpose to receive higher mortgage and tax phrases.

Along with the hefty monetary penalty, James needs to bar Trump’s corporations from doing enterprise in New York. She additionally needs to completely cease Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump and Ivanka Trump from serving as an officer of an organization within the state.

Final August, earlier than James filed the fraud swimsuit, Trump sat for a deposition with James’ workplace and invoked his Fifth Modification proper in opposition to self-incrimination greater than 400 occasions.

Trump’s social media posts forward of the newest deposition railed in opposition to James, the primary Black girl to carry her title, as a “racist” and a “lowlife” who was biased in opposition to him.