NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Tuesday that she will not drop her nearly $500 million civil fraud case against President-elect Donald Trump arguing that presidents are not immune from lawsuits involving unofficial conduct and that the case will not interfere with Trump’s duties as president.
“The ordinary burdens of civil litigation do not impede the President’s official duties in a way that violates the U.S. Constitution," Deputy Solicitor General Judith Vale wrote in a letter to Trump attorney D. John Sauer.
Last month, Trump's lawyers asked James to dismiss the case, calling for unity after his election win.
“In the aftermath of his historic election victory, President Trump has called for our Nation’s partisan strife to end, and for the contending factions to join forces for the greater good of the country,” Trump’s attorney Sauer wrote. “This call for unity extends to the legal onslaught against him and his family that permeated the most recent election cycle.”
James rejected the request, saying the lawsuit stems from years of investigation into Trump and his company’s business practices. Earlier this year, James found that Trump had allegedly inflated his net worth to gain tax and insurance benefits. A court ordered Trump, the Trump Organization, and his top executives—including Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump—to pay $464 million in damages. With interest, that amount has grown to more than $496 million.
In the letter, James’ office dismissed Trump’s argument that the case should be dropped because of his upcoming inauguration. "Contrary to your suggestion, the pendency of defendants’ appeal during Mr. Trump’s term as President fully comports with the U.S. Constitution," the letter read. " There is also no merit to your claim that the pendency of defendants’ own appeal will impede Mr. Trump’s official duties as President."
James’ office explained that the lawsuit is a civil enforcement action, not a criminal case, and does not involve Trump’s conduct as President.
“This civil enforcement action was filed following a multiyear investigation by the Office, and multiple courts have rejected claims that the investigation or action were brought in anything other than good faith,” the letter read.
The civil fraud case is currently in the appellate stage after an eleven-week trial earlier this year. James said her office has no plans to back down, stating that the evidence shows Trump and his company engaged in “repeated and persistent fraud.”