Wait, why is Donald Trump back in New York City?

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Former President Donald Trump is back in his hometown today for another legal appearance, but this one doesn’t involve adult movie stars or felony charges.

Perhaps because of that, the case hasn’t gotten nearly as much media attention as Trumps 34-count indictment, which was brought last week by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. But the civil case against the former president is still legally dangerous and, like the Bragg case, involves allegations of fraud.

Trump was ousted by state Attorney General Letitia James as part of a civil suit against himself, his companies, two company executives and three of his adult children, Ivanka, Donald Jr. . and Eric accusing them of systematically falsifying the Trumps’ balance sheets from 2011 to 2021, helping them reap more than $250 million in benefits that James is now seeking to force them to pay.

Along with steep monetary damages, the suit seeks to impose business sanctions on the former president and the Trump Organization, including a five-year ban on completing any New York real estate transactions or securing loans from banks chartered in New York. James is also seeking to permanently bar Trump and his children from serving as officers or directors of any New York-based business.

The suit accused Trump, his children and two Trump Organization employees former Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg and controller Jeffrey McConney of inflating the Trumps’ statements of financial condition by falsely claiming twelve -dozens of his properties are worth more than their actual value.

Among the holdings cited in the lawsuit are some of Trump’s signature assets, including his Trump Tower residence in Midtown, his Mar-a-Lago Club in Florida, the Seven Springs estate in Westchester County and his Trump National Golf Clubs.

In one example, James highlighted the Trumps’ property at 40 Wall St. According to the suit, the Trump Organization received appraisals in 2010 and 2012 that valued the property at $200 million and $220 million, respectively.

But in the 2011 balance sheet, Trump listed 40 Wall St.s worth at $524 million and $527 million in 2012. His company allegedly used an inflated value to help get better terms on a loan from at Ladder Capital Finance, where the Weisselbergs’ son worked, according to the lawsuit.

This is the second deposition in the case since last year, the former president accused James of conducting a political witch hunt and invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination hundreds of times in a matter of hours.

There are some similarities to last weeks watch, though. Both cases were sparked by testimony from Michael Cohen, Trump’s former fixer. Both also involve accusations of Trump lying about his business dealings. And of course, Trumps ire is the same topic on his own Truth Social platform.

I’m going downtown to meet with a Racist who leaked that I’ll be there at 9:30 am. Trump posted Thursday morning. The leak makes it harder for the Police and Secret Service to do their jobs. This civil case is ridiculous, just like all the other Election Interference cases brought against me.

Unlike the spectacle of previous weeks, only a handful of reporters showed up for Thursday’s deposition.

The attorney general’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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