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ALBANY, NY (WENY) — Following the Manhattan grand jury to indict former president Donald Trump, some New York state lawmakers said this is an example of justice.
“It’s about time Donald Trump got held to account for everything he has perpetrated in his life,” said Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal (D-Assembly District 67).
Gov. Kathy Hochul also responded to the indictment.
“It is simply a statement that all of our laws apply to everyone,” Hochul said.
While other lawmakers responded saying this is a sad day for the country.
“It’s a politically motivated prosecution and that should bother everybody,” Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt (R-62nd Senate District).
But the indictment isn’t the only legal challenge facing the former president.
In September Attorney General Letitia James filed a $250 million dollar lawsuit alleging that Trump and his senior executives at the Trump Organization falsely inflated their net worth by billions of dollars to entice banks to lend them money.
A New York state attorney said because most lending institutions are federally insured this makes the allegations in violation of federal banking law which are cases typically handled by the United States Attorney General.
“In this case, it’s very unusual that you would see a state Attorney General bringing an action in civil court that relates primarily to what could have been, if investigated and found to be true, a crime,” said Donald Chesworth, Partner at Tully Rinckey PLLC Attorney’s & Counselor’s at Law.
The Attorney General’s office stated the allegations were in violation of a New York executive law where a person engages in repeated fraud and illegality. This law gives the Office of the Attorney General power to pursue action.
A lawyer for Trump did not respond to WENY for comment.
The Attorney General’s lawsuit pends trial this upcoming October.
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