Donald Trump said he will be questioned Wednesday by the New York attorney general, who is probing potentially fraudulent asset valuations by his company.
In a post on his Truth Social media account, Trump said his “great company, and myself, are being attacked from all sides.” The deposition -- which had been delayed a month because of the death of his former wife Ivana Trump -- comes just days after Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence was searched by federal agents investigating whether the former president took classified documents from the White House.
Trump and two of his children, Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump, agreed to each sit for seven hours of sworn testimony, after losing a court battle to quash the subpoenas. New York Attorney General Letitia James is investigating whether the Manhattan-based Trump Organization manipulated asset valuations to secure more favorable terms for bank loans and insurance, as well as tax breaks.
The former president was held in contempt of court and fined $10,000 a day as part of the same investigation after he failed to properly respond to a related subpoena for documents and records in his personal possession. Trump resolved the contempt finding after racking up $110,000 in fines.
"Manipulate asset valuations"? Depending on the local market, pretty much anything over $50K is valued by an unbiased outside third party such as an appraisal company, which is hired by the financial institution doing the lending. I've heard of property owners trying to bribe the 'unbiased' third party, but that's a totally different scenario. Quite frankly regarding properties such as Trump's the lending institutions would probably hire at least two, and possibly three firms to cross check the valuations. I never understood this line of thinking. So if you think your property is worth more than appraised that is now a crime? Also in reverse, would challenging a tax assessment on your property also be a crime?