The Trump Organization has been ordered to complete its compliance with a subpoena from New York state Attorney General Letitia James by the end of April. James is conducting a civil investigation into the Trump Organization’s business practices, and the subpoena — initially issued over two years ago — is connected to that probe. James previously indicated her civil investigation has turned up evidence “indicating that the Trump Organization used fraudulent or misleading asset valuations to obtain a host of economic benefits, including loans, insurance coverage, and tax deductions.” Besides the demand from New York Judge Arthur Engoron for the Trump company to complete its compliance with that subpoena next month, the judge also ordered a so-called e-discovery firm called Haystack to put together weekly reports on the status of searches for materials covered by James’s subpoena.
Giant win for @January6thCmte in Eastman case. Judge Carter says Trump’s actions were likely criminal and “would have “permanently ended the peaceful transition of power” in America. He ordered Eastman to disclose docs to our Committee.
— Rep. Jamie Raskin (@RepRaskin) March 28, 2022
Haystack had been brought in to monitor the Trump company’s compliance with this subpoena, which apparently demands a host of documents from the former president’s business. Now, as explained by CNN: “Trump Organization attorneys said they would finish their compliance with the subpoena by April 15 and need an additional two weeks to certify and produce any remaining materials. The judge endorsed the schedule and said the Trump Organization could have until April 29.” This matter is separate from the push connected to James’s civil investigation for testimony from Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr., and Ivanka Trump. Although Engoron previously ordered the three of them to comply with demands for their testimony, the Trumps’ side appealed, and that matter has not yet been resolved. Regarding this latest development in the fight over docs from the Trump Organization, James commented: “We are pleased with this order which will continue to hold Donald J. Trump and the Trump Organization accountable… Once again, it sends a clear message that no one is above the law.”
After my predecessor’s fiscal mismanagement, we’re reducing the Trump deficits and returning our fiscal house to order.
— President Biden (@POTUS) March 28, 2022
Notably, attorney Austin Thompson, who works for James’s office, informed Engoron that there was “real urgency” behind the push to wrap up the Trump Organization’s compliance with the document demands, “because a tolling agreement extending the statute of limitations to file a lawsuit involving certain conduct expires on April 30,” CNN summarizes. Because James’s investigation is civil in nature, criminal charges connected to the probe are not on the metaphorical horizon, but she could file a lawsuit. The former president previously filed a lawsuit seeking to end James’s civil probe and bar her from participating in a parallel criminal investigation into the Trump business that also involves investigators in the Manhattan district attorney’s office and has already culminated, in part, in criminal charges for tax evasion. Trump alleged that his right to free speech had been violated, claiming that James’s targeting of him was politically motivated — although it’s not as though she hasn’t produced evidence supporting her careful assertions throughout her time investigating the former president.
Reuters: U.S. JUDGE SAYS FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP LIKELY COMMITTED FELONY OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS ON JAN. 6, 2021 – COURT RULING
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) March 28, 2022
