Letitia James, the attorney general in New York, brought a civil case against President Donald Trump for his business deals. She claimed he falsified the valuations of his properties to get better terms and make more money.
During the trial, lenders testified all the loans they made to Trump had been repaid on terms they liked, and they’d be happy to do business with him again.
Irrelevant, said James and leftist Democrat Judge Arthur Engoron, who later was investigated for apparently violating judicial norms by talking to outsiders about the Trump case. The statements were misleading. Pay nearly half a billion dollars, Mr. President.
Of course the penalty was thrown out on appeal almost immediate but James, who later was indicted for mortgage fraud herself, has continued to try to have them reinstated.
Now Trump’s lawyers are contending that she has refused to follow court requirements in the case, even though she says she has.
A report at Fox News reports they have charged that the case is riddled with errors and James may have key evidence she hasn’t turned over, such as communications with Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen.
He also was a key witness for the prosecution against Trump in Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg’s criminal case against Trump – business expense reporting violations – and recently recanted his testimony. He previously was convicted of perjury.
“In a letter filed with the New York Supreme Court on Thursday, Trump’s representation is arguing that James failed to comply with a court order that required her to present ‘the preservation practices’ and ‘its preservation efforts,’” the report said.
“In seeking the discovery, defendants rely on a January 16, 2026 article by Cohen, published on the online platform Substack in which he asserted that, in meetings with lawyers from [James’s] office, he had ‘felt pressured and coerced to only provide information and testimony that would satisfy the government’s desire to build the cases against and secure a judgement and convictions against President Trump,” a court filing reads.
The claim was that Trump routinely misrepresented the value of his properties. The judge is requiring the parties disclose relevant information and James must detail the process to maintain and preserve evidence, the report said.
“[New York Attorney General’s Office] also carefully avoids representing one way or the other whether any requested materials in fact exist, and, if they do, whether NYAG has confirmed that they are being preserved,” they charged. “Instead of actually complying with the Order, NYAG has simply recited in general terms that her ‘standard litigation hold procedures’ have been in place since the investigation phase of this matter.”
James’ civil case against Trump was in 2022, and the judge found Trump “liable” and ordered a $355 million penalty plus interest.
That financial penalty was vacated by an appeals courts, and Trump’s lawyers contend the case is so rife with errors it should be thrown out, but James is demanding the penalties be reinstated.
Trump’s lawyers have claimed James lacked authority to bring the case, since the transactions were private, and between agreeing parties, and the valuations were subjective estimates and lenders did their own calculations,
“The only supposed ‘victims’ here are a handful of ultrasophisticated banks and insurers that have never claimed to be injured, were eager to do business with President Trump and his family, and made over $100 million from these transactions,” the appeal states.
The first three clips are Letitia James bragging about her lawfare against Trump.
The fourth clip is James claiming that lawfare is being used against her.
They sure can dish it out… pic.twitter.com/0cvMaHhu3x
— MAZE (@mazemoore) August 31, 2026
HOLY CRAP
Prosecutor in NY AG Letitia James’ office, says he was ordered by his boss Bureau Chief Shamiso Maswoswe to target Trump and groups associated with Trump, according to an email obtained by the Times-Union pic.twitter.com/0jbKAkpa1q
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) August 31, 2026
I stood on those courthouse steps every day and told you exactly what Letitia James was doing.
She didn’t find a crime and follow the evidence. She picked President Trump and went shopping for one.
They called me a liar.
Now the truth is coming from inside her own office.
— Alina Habba (@AlinaHabba) August 30, 2026
“WE’VE GOT THE RECEIPTS” ON LETITIA JAMES@DrJohnEastman says a whistleblower has produced documents he argues show Letitia James targeted political opponents: “We knew it, but now we’ve got the receipts for it.” He’s calling on the DOJ to investigate and prosecute any… pic.twitter.com/lIC2zpWWao
— Real America’s Voice (RAV) (@RealAmVoice) August 31, 2026
‘Witch hunt’: Trump calls for cases against him to be ‘terminated’ after Michael Cohen recanted
