Donald Trump investigation: NY AG Letitia James continues civil investigation, deposition of Trump family

Former President Donald Trump remains embattled with several investigations, both criminal and civil. New York Attorney General Letitia James said last week that she was ready for a standoff with the former president as her civil probe into the Trump Organization continues.

Friday last week, James said that she was prepared for a standoff against the former president and two of his eldest children, Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump, as they attempt to evade sitting for a court-ordered deposition. This comes as Manhattan judge Arthur Engoron ruled last week that the Trumps must sit for a deposition with James by March 10.

“Donald J. Trump, Donald Trump Jr., and Ivanka Trump were ordered by the court to comply with our lawful investigation into Mr. Trump and the Trump Organization’s financial dealings. While they have a right to seek a delay, they cannot deter us from following the facts and the law wherever they may lead,” said James in a statement.

“Make no mistake, my office will continue to pursue this case without fear or favor because no one is above the law,” said James.

James’s comments also follow signs from Trump’s attorneys that the former president would seek to appeal the ruling to the Appellate Division, First Department. Such a process usually takes months.

Three days prior to Engoron’s ruling, the former president’s longtime accounting firm Mazars has essentially cut ties with Trump. Mazars also announced that the financial statements from the past 10 years from 2011 to 2020 are not to be relied upon.

Meanwhile, more revelations about Trump’s presidency and what transpired behind the scenes are emerging. This time, it was through an upcoming book by Trump’s former attorney general Bill Barr, titled “One Damn Thing After Another.”

Excerpts from the book, according to the Wall Street Journal, revealed that shortly before Barr announced his resignation as the attorney general, he was summoned to the White House on December 1, 2020, where he had a heated confrontation with the twice-impeached former president. Barr reportedly told Trump about how he had sacrificed a lot to help the now-former president but made it clear that there was no evidence of election fraud.

Trump, furious that Barr would not back up his claims of election fraud, apparently yelled and pounded on his desk and told the then-attorney general to “go home” and never come back.