New York Attorney's Office Holds A Criminal Investigation Against The Trump Organization

Donald Trump. (Sumber: Pixabay)

JAKARTA - The Attorney General's Office in New York announced that it was conducting a criminal investigation into the Trump Organization of former President Donald Trump, Tuesday, May 18 at local time.

New York Attorney General Letitia James is said to have led a criminal investigation, rather than a civil investigation, into the alleged misreporting of property values, in order to obtain loans and economic benefits as well as taxes.

"We have informed the Trump Organization, our investigation into the organization is no longer purely civil in nature", Fabien Levy, a spokesman for the attorney general's office, said in a statement to Reuters on Wednesday, May 19.

"We are now actively investigating the Trump Organization in a criminal capacity, together with the Manhattan District Attorney".

The Trump organization could not immediately be reached for comment. However, they said the investigation was politically motivated and overseen by a Democrat named James.

James has been investigating whether the Trump Organization is increasing the value of some properties to get better loans and lowering them to get property tax breaks.

Separately, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance has been investigating Donald Trump's business dealings for more than two years. Vance's office said in the court filings they were investigating the possibility of a broad and protracted criminal act at the former president's Trump Organization. Including tax and insurance fraud and falsification of business records.

Vance's investigation began after former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen paid hush money to silence two women before the 2016 election over claims of sexual relations with Trump.