Trump slams ‘worst witch-hunt in American history’ after prosecutors hint his company is being probed for alleged fraud
PRESIDENT Donald Trump has slammed a New York prosecutor’s suggestion that his company is being investigated for fraud as “the worst witch hunt in American history.” When questioned about the investigation of the Trump Organization, Trump scoffed and brushed off the probe as “Democrat stuff.” “This is a continuation of the worst witch hunt in […]
PRESIDENT Donald Trump has slammed a New York prosecutor’s suggestion that his company is being investigated for fraud as “the worst witch hunt in American history.”
When questioned about the investigation of the Trump Organization, Trump scoffed and brushed off the probe as “Democrat stuff.”
“This is a continuation of the worst witch hunt in American history,” he told reporters at a White House press briefing on Monday
“It didn’t work out for Congress, didn’t workout for [Former Justice Department Special Counsel Robert] Mueller, didn’t work out for anybody so what they’re doing is they send them around to all over the country I guess, maybe.”
“It’s a terrible thing that they’re doing. The witch hunt has gone on long enough,” he added.
Before asserting that the suggested probe was a witch hunt, Trump claimed: “There’s nothing that I know even about it.”
“I had seen that today, just a little while ago, and I said ‘what’s this all about? I know nothing about it’,” he said.
“It’s just a continuation of the witch hunt.”
The president’s comments came hours after a federal court filing by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R Vance Jr alleged “extensive and protracted criminal conduct” at the Trump Organization.
Vance’s filing said Trump’s accountants must comply with a subpoena for eight years of his corporate and personal tax filings.
While Vance had previously said the investigation is related to alleged hush money paid to keep women quiet about their alleged affairs with Trump, his lawyers said the investigation was broader.
“These reports describe transactions involving individual and corporate actors based in New York County, but whose conduct at times extended beyond New York’s borders,” the lawyers said.
“This possible criminal activity occurred within the applicable statutes of limitations, particularly if the transactions involved a continuing pattern of conduct.”
Attorneys for Vance said the president wasn’t entitled to know the exact nature of the grand jury investigation.
The judge heard that at the time the subpoena was issued “there were public allegations of possible criminal activity at Plaintiff’s New York County-based Trump Organization dating back over a decade.”
Trump’s legal team said last month the grand jury subpoena for the tax returns was issued in bad faith and amounted to harassment of the president.
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The Trump Organization is a group of about 500 business entities, comprising mostly real estate, which was headed up by Donald Trump until he became president.
Trump and daughter Ivanka resigned from the company once he was sworn-in, leaving his sons Don Jr. and Eric to run it.
Though he is no longer involved in the day-to-day running of the Trump Organization, the president still retains his financial stake in the business.
