Donald Trump Lawyer Downplays ‘Incredibly Subjective’ Asset Valuations Amid Fraud Probe

[ad_1]

An attorney for former President Donald Trump said the asset valuations were “incredibly subjective” amid an ongoing investigation into whether the Trump Organization erred in the value of assets.

Attorney Alina Habba spoke with Fox News ’Sean Hannity on Friday about New York’s Attorney General Letitia James’s investigation into potentially fraudulent property valuations.

James said Tuesday that his office discovered “significant evidence” that the Trump Organization used fraudulent estimates to gain “economic benefits.”

Hannity asked Habba about the New York AG investigation and the allegations about the asset assessments. “Real estate valuations — valuations of any property — are really subjective,” Habba said.

“The lenders we’re talking about are institutional, sophisticated lenders.

“If you think Deutsche Banks of the world lends money to anyone without making their own process and tools and valuing assets from the beginning — which is incredibly subjective, incredibly subjective — if so you have a lot of doubt in the banks.and people who will work with the Trump Organization or the Trump family.

“Funny.”

In his relatively brief conversation with Hannity, Habba also offered broad criticism of James, calling his involvement in both a criminal and civil investigation by the Trump Organization “unethical.”

We found significant evidence stating that the Trump Organization used fraudulent and deceptive asset valuations on many assets to obtain economic benefits, including loans, insurance coverage, and tax deductions. for many years.

– NY AG James (@NewYorkStateAG) January 19, 2022

James ’office is conducting a civil investigation into the Trump Organization and attorneys from his office have joined a criminal investigation conducted by the Manhattan District Attorney. As a result, the New York AG office is now conducting similar criminal and civil investigations.

On Tuesday, James ’official Twitter account posted a series of tweets related to the civil investigation.

“We found significant evidence indicating that the Trump Organization used fraudulent and fraudulent asset assessments on many assets to obtain economic benefits, including loans, insurance coverage, and deductions. in taxes for many years, ”James’ office said.

“Donald Trump, Donald Trump, Jr., and Ivanka Trump are all closely involved in the transactions in question, so we will not tolerate their attempts to evade witnessing in this investigation,” the tweets said. continued, and added: “No one is beyond the law.”

James also filed a court filing in the civil investigation on Tuesday that responded to the issue of asset assessments and Deutsche Bank. He seeks to force sworn testimony from Donald Trump, Donald Trump, Jr., and Ivanka Trump.

The filing said Trump’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, “was a key contact for the Trump Organization’s largest lender, Deutsche Bank. In connection with this work, Ms. Trump made misleading statements to finance to be submitted to Deutsche Bank and the federal government. “

The former president has denied any wrongdoing and a spokesman for the Trump Organization released a statement Tuesday accusing James of “misleading the public.”

“He deceived New Yorkers by basing his entire candidacy on a promise to get Trump at all costs without seeing a shred of evidence and violating every conceivable rule of ethics,” the statement said. statement.

Newsweek asked Letitia James’ office for comment.

Former President Donald Trump spoke to a member of the media after a border security briefing on June 30, 2021 in Weslaco, Texas. A lawyer for Trump downplayed allegations that the Trump Organization erred in the value of assets. Brandon Bell/Getty Images

[ad_2]