NY AG files lawsuit against Trump

[Velar Fricative]

abcnews.go.com/US/york-ag-letitia-james-files-250m-lawsuit-trump/story?id=90240332

[Velar Fricative]

I’m just laughing because none of this would have happened if he didn’t have the nerve to run for President.

[livinitup]

Finally

Go, Letitia James, go!!

[Velar Fricative]

Granted, I know there’s more from DC and GA regarding actual BS he’s did as POTUS and post-POTUS but I like the fact that this is something he AND his family will feel in their pocketbooks if NY actually wins in court and forbids the Trumps from ever running a business here again. Again, shoulda just kept living the shady life as a private citizen.

[rubytue]

Sept 21, 2022 10:38:06 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

I’m just laughing because none of this would have happened if he didn’t have the nerve to run for President.

But, implying it was because he ran for president feeds into the implication that it is politically motivated. Although, in reality, it’s more that he let it all hang out because of the presidency, not that being president is what made them file. 

[rubytue]

Sept 21, 2022 10:56:04 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

Granted, I know there’s more from DC and GA regarding actual BS he’s did as POTUS and post-POTUS but I like the fact that this is something he AND his family will feel in their pocketbooks if NY actually wins in court and forbids the Trumps from ever running a business here again. Again, shoulda just kept living the shady life as a private citizen.

Ha! You posted this as I was typing my buuuut…. 😘

[smock]

"No one, my friend, is above the law." Letitia James is such a badass.

[Bad Dingo]

"We are attempting to dissolve these corporations."

ETA: Never mind, she walked that back.

[smock]

Here's the NY AG twitter thread summing up the lawsuit:

[Velar Fricative]

Sept 21, 2022 10:58:36 GMT -5 rubytue said:

Sept 21, 2022 10:38:06 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

I’m just laughing because none of this would have happened if he didn’t have the nerve to run for President.

But, implying it was because he ran for president feeds into the implication that it is politically motivated. Although, in reality, it’s more that he let it all hang out because of the presidency, not that being president is what made them file. 

Totally agree. And it’s possible (probable?) this would have happened anyway, although maybe not at this moment. But I know enough to know that AGs and legal officials have a lot on their plates and visibility matters.

[Velar Fricative]

I like to believe that James was intentionally making a dig at Judge Cannon with the line about the former president not being above the law.

[fernweh]

So just so I’m 100% clear (I read the article, I just want to verify I understand) - there are no criminal charges? So there wouldn’t be any prison times associated with this? Just financial penalties?

[beetea]

Sept 21, 2022 11:35:09 GMT -5 fernweh said:

So just so I’m 100% clear (I read the article, I just want to verify I understand) - there are no criminal charges? So there wouldn’t be any prison times associated with this? Just financial penalties?

I believe she said they are referring to the DOJ for criminal charges. 

ETA: Yes - confirmed by her tweet as well.

[wanderingback]

Oh yes I heard she was having a press conference.
I have a major crush on her.
I was in a meeting with her once and I couldn’t stop smiling because she is so great.

[Susie]

This right here is why I was not at all sad when she withdrew from the governor's race.  Too much here in the AG's role that I wanted to see her finish, for her to leave!

[lust2hart]

Who would the $250M go to? The banks that loaned the money?

[pixy0stix]

BWAHAHAHHAHAHAAHA!

[basilosaurus]

PERP WALK PERP WALK

Yeah yeah, I know, not criminal at this point.

But can't I have a bit of fantasy?

[Susie]

Sept 21, 2022 13:38:46 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

PERP WALK PERP WALK

Yeah yeah, I know, not criminal at this point.

But can't I have a bit of fantasy?

this is where the magic (of DOJ referrals) happens.  Believe!

[seeyalater52]

This is so fun.

I mean, hot damn I can’t believe it’s come to this. But it’s still fun to watch, given everything.

[fernweh]

I don’t really understand how he did this. Wouldn’t he have to prove the value of the properties? I know it’s different but I can’t just tell a bank that my house is worth $5 million and they give me a mortgage. It has to appraise.

[leshoequeen]

Like I'm five, could someone tell me why this is a "lawsuit"? I'm just thrown by that verbiage. I get that this isn't a criminal charge, but am still perplexed. Is he being "charged" civilly?

[StrawberryBlondie]

Sept 21, 2022 15:00:50 GMT -5 leshoequeen said:

Like I'm five, could someone tell me why this is a "lawsuit"? I'm just thrown by that verbiage. I get that this isn't a criminal charge, but am still perplexed. Is he being "charged" civilly?

Certain things can be both civil and criminal, and AG James can't bring criminal charges, IIRC. She can, however, ban them from doing business or buying real estate in the state, though.

[livinitup]

Sept 21, 2022 13:32:59 GMT -5 lust2hart said:

Who would the $250M go to? The banks that loaned the money?

The winning settlement money goes back to the state to fund a variety of activities, programs, even new investigations, or to re-pay victims. It can go to the the general fund, it can fund state pensions, state programs, or even special grants. When Elliot Spitzer was the AG of NYS he famously went after and secured major million dollar settlements against unlawful activity, fraud, and harm to tax payers and residents.

About twenty years ago, NYS received $25M in a $200+M multi-state lawsuit settlement against several Vitamin companies. His office directed the funds be released as grants to fund programs in areas including prenatal care, nutrition, hunger, and agriculture. I was working at a non-profit that received $100K. It was a great year for our children’s nutrition and hunger initiative!

[pixy0stix]

Sept 21, 2022 14:54:24 GMT -5 fernweh said:

I don’t really understand how he did this. Wouldn’t he have to prove the value of the properties? I know it’s different but I can’t just tell a bank that my house is worth $5 million and they give me a mortgage. It has to appraise.

I'm sure I'm going to be corrected ( ), but I think they falsified documents.

[spindle92]

Sept 21, 2022 14:54:24 GMT -5 fernweh said:

I don’t really understand how he did this. Wouldn’t he have to prove the value of the properties? I know it’s different but I can’t just tell a bank that my house is worth $5 million and they give me a mortgage. It has to appraise.

Falsified documents

[lust2hart]

Sept 21, 2022 15:55:19 GMT -5 livinitup said:

Sept 21, 2022 13:32:59 GMT -5 lust2hart said:

Who would the $250M go to? The banks that loaned the money?

The winning settlement money goes back to the state to fund a variety of activities, programs, even new investigations, or to re-pay victims. It can go to the the general fund, it can fund state pensions, state programs, or even special grants. When Elliot Spitzer was the AG of NYS he famously went after and secured major million dollar settlements against unlawful activity, fraud, and harm to tax payers and residents.

About twenty years ago, NYS received $25M in a $200+M multi-state lawsuit settlement against several Vitamin companies. His office directed the funds be released as grants to fund programs in areas including prenatal care, nutrition, hunger, and agriculture. I was working at a non-profit that received $100K. It was a great year for our children’s nutrition and hunger initiative!

Thanks. I thought maybe it would go to the state since they're the ones filing the lawsuit, but then was trying to figure out how "the state" would be a victim in this, and that maybe the money would actually go somewhere else.

[Saudade]

Sept 21, 2022 16:01:50 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Sept 21, 2022 14:54:24 GMT -5 fernweh said:

I don’t really understand how he did this. Wouldn’t he have to prove the value of the properties? I know it’s different but I can’t just tell a bank that my house is worth $5 million and they give me a mortgage. It has to appraise.

I'm sure I'm going to be corrected ( ), but I think they falsified documents.

You are correct. I forgot where it was since it's been a few years but it had to do with the valuation of the properties and assets.

[livinitup]

I have been hearing a whole lotta coverage that the investigation of Trump, his employees, his family members on record as agents of the company, the whole organization up & down was triggered by his extra attention at running and winning office. Sure. There are obvious red flags with withholding his taxes and alllll the stuff. So much coverage is saying with such certainty that he would not have have been investigated if not for the attention of the presidential run.

I have to ask - why the fuck?

(I know why)

But really, what the actual fuck? It’s so obvious that the legal system gives all of these rich fuckers a pass, over and over forever. How do we make it stop??

HOW CAN THIS CRIMINAL ACTIVITY **EVEN TAX EVASION** BE THIS OBVIOUS AND GO ON FOR DECADES

[sent]

Sept 21, 2022 15:55:19 GMT -5 livinitup said:

The winning settlement money goes back to the state to fund a variety of activities, programs, even new investigations, or to re-pay victims. It can go to the the general fund, it can fund state pensions, state programs, or even special grants. When Elliot Spitzer was the AG of NYS he famously went after and secured major million dollar settlements against unlawful activity, fraud, and harm to tax payers and residents.

Spitzer accused a dentist that billed a lot of Medicaid in NY of Medicaid fraud. This dentist lost his practice and his home defending himself and was found not guilty. The dentist won because he showed that Spitzer’s guy had falsified records. He then sued Spitzer and won 7.7 million. Stories like this keep a lot of good doctors away from touching Medicaid with a 10 foot pole. 

Of course I hope in this particular lawsuit against Trump that the AG wins.