Seeks to compel

New York AG seeks to compel Trumps' testimony in business probe

Former President Donald Trump sued Letitia James last month in a bid to thwart her ongoing investigations.

By COLBY BERMEL

New York Attorney General Letitia James on Tuesday night moved to force former President Donald Trump and his two elder children to comply with her probe of the Trump Organization's finances.

James' office filed the court papers in response to the Trumps' attempts to avoid testifying in the investigation. She argued that prosecutors are entitled to documents and sworn testimony from former president Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump.

She asked a judge to order the Trumps' compliance with her previous subpoenas and deny the family's motion to quash them.

"No one in this country can pick and choose if and how the law applies to them," James tweeted, adding that the three Trumps "have all been closely involved" in some Trump Organization transactions that, according to the attorney general, "used fraudulent and misleading asset valuations on multiple properties to obtain economic benefits, including loans, insurance coverage, and tax deductions for years."

"We will not be deterred in our efforts to continue this investigation, uncover the facts, and pursue justice, no matter how many roadblocks Mr. Trump and his family throw in our way," James said.

She also argued that the New York County district attorney's potential parallel investigation into the Trumps "is neither unusual nor a sufficient ground for Respondents to avoid sitting for testimony. Nor does the participation of attorneys from [the New York attorney general's office] in any separate criminal investigation provide a basis for the Court to quash properly issued subpoenas."

Former President Trump sued James last month in a bid to thwart her ongoing investigations into his business practices. Earlier in January, she subpoenaed Donald Jr. and Ivanka Trump.

James' office hasn't decided whether evidence it's obtained so far in the civil investigation merits legal action.