Donald Trump accused of fraud by the New York General Attorney

In the criminal justice system...

Attorney General Letitia James of New York has formally accused former US President Donald Trump of fraud, for misstating the value of his properties.

Family business

According to the attorney general, Donald Trump and three of his children lied to lenders and insurers for more than a decade for billions of US dollars.

Inflated worth

The New York Times reports that the 220-page-long lawsuit, submitted to the New York Supreme Court, details how the Trump family allegedly inflated the value of their most important properties: From Trump Tower in the heart of Manhattan to the Florida estate of Mar-a-Lago.

The Art of the Steal

“Claiming you have money that you do not have does not amount to the art of the deal. It’s the art of the steal,” James stated, making a reference to Donald Trump’s ghostwritten autobiography ‘The Art of the Deal’.

'No one is above the law'

“There cannot be different rules for different people in this country or in this state… No one is above the law,” the New York General Attorney said, as quoted by The Guardian.

Here comes the taxman

The Guardian highlights that James also made referrals to federal prosecutors and the Internal Revenue Service, which could bring bigger problems to the former US President.

Leaving New York?

If the former US President is declared guilty, Trump would be barred from ever running a business in the state of New York again.

Following in their father's footsteps

Ivanka Trump, Eric Trump, and Donald Trump Jr. would also face legal consequences. The Trump Organization would be banned from acquiring real estate or receiving loans from New York-based entities for five years.

The buck stops here

“Trump thought he could get away with the art of the steal but today that conduct ends,” declared the New York Attorney General.

Speaking about B.S.

Reactions were immediate. While James revealed the charges at a press conference, Donald Trump Jr. Compared the suit to a witch hunt while using a bovine-based expletive.

New York politics

According to Politico, Trump’s inner circle had accused the New York Attorney General in the past of using the charges to foster her political career.

Q and A

What is true is that just one week before, Donald Trump was asked by conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt (pictured) if the criminal investigations he was facing could harm his chances to run in 2024.

'Big problems'

Politico reported that during the radio interview, the former US President warned that his criminal indictment could lead to “big problems”.

Preaching to the choir

“I don't think the people of the United States would stand for it,” Trump said during his interview on The Hugh Hewitt Show.

When does a warning becomes a threat?

Political commentators, including Business Insider, believe the former US President was hinting that his followers could erupt into street violence if jail time was a possibility.

Trouble with a capital T

“I think you'd have problems in this country the likes of which perhaps, we've never seen before,” Trump declared.