Letitia James Taunts Trump Over Bombshell Fraud Fine — Will Seize Very Special Building If Needed
New York Attorney General Letitia James taunted former President Donald Trump over the bombshell fraud judgment he must pay, vowing to seize property if necessary and name-checking a very special building to Trump.
On Friday, Trump’s fraud trial culminated in a bombshell judgment that could cost him in excess of $460 million with interest. Many have speculated about Trump selling off assets to pay the judgment, although his attorney says he has plenty of cash to put up.
On Tuesday night’s edition of ABC World News Tonight, Muir hosted correspondent Aaron Katersky to talk about his exclusive interview with AG James, who offered rejoinders for several of Trump’s attacks and promised to go after his properties if he did not come up ith the cash:
AG LETITIA JAMES: If he does not have funds to pay off the judgment. And then we will seek, you know, judgment enforcement mechanisms in court, and we will ask the judge to seize his assets.
AARON KATERSKY: Trump was held liable for exaggerating his wealth and inflating the value of his real estate, so banks would give him low interest loans. Trump insisted the banks like doing business with him.
They said no victim. No one got harmed. The banks got paid back. So no harm, no foul. Why is that not the case, in your view?
AG LETITIA JAMES: So financial frauds are not victimless crimes. He engaged in this massive amount of fraud! And it wasn’t just a simple mistake, a slight oversight, the variations wildly exaggerated, and the extent of the fraud was staggering.
AARON KATERSKY: Trump said the penalty against him would drive other businesses out of New York.
DONALD TRUMP: Will appeal, will be successful, I think, because frankly, if we’re not successful, New York State is gone.
AARON KATERSKY: But the state’s attorney general told us she’s not worried.
AG LETITIA JAMES: And last I checked, tourism is up and Wall Street is doing just fine.
AARON KATERSKY: Even with an impending appeal, Trump must either put all $355 million in escrow with the court, or post a portion of it as a bond with interest. And David, tonight, the attorney general is telling us she is determined to make Trump pay, even if it means seizing this building or others long in the Trump portfolio.
But in a portion of the interview that was not included in the video package, James cited a property that Trump is so proud of, he bragged about it on September 11, 2001 after the Twin Towers fell to the terrorist attacks.
“We are prepared to make sure that the judgment is paid to New Yorkers, and yes, I look at 40 Wall Street each and every day,” James told Katersky.
The building has also been the site of several of Trump’s post-court press scrums.
Watch above via ABC World News Tonight.
