Pressure is increasing on Trump as former Trump Organization lawyers will have to hand over the documents to the New York attorney general who investigated him

Investigation by Letitia James Trump
(L) New York Attorney General, Letitia James, in August 2020. (R) Former President Donald Trump and former First Lady Melania Trump on January 20, 2021 Brendan McDermid / Leah Millis / Reuters
  • The former Trump Organization law firm is due to hand over the documents to the New York Attorney General.

  • It is the last step in investigating whether Trump has falsely inflated the value of his assets.

  • A judge determined that the documents were not protected by the attorney-client privilege.

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A law firm that previously represented the Trump Organization was ordered to hand over documents to a New York attorney general who was investigating the former president.

Letitia James’s investigation into the organization’s finances – and Trump’s personal finances – aims to determine whether the Trump Organization has falsely inflated the value of Trump’s assets to gain access to loans and tax benefits.

The law firm that previously worked for the organization, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, argued that the documents were protected by the attorney-client privilege, according to Reuters.

But as it was business, not legal advice, Judge Arthur Engoron said they were not protected, the agency said.

“The communication of a lawyer is not disguised as a privilege when the lawyer is hired for business or personal consulting, or to do the work of a non-lawyer,” Reuters reported that Engoron decided on Friday.

According to the Associated Press, James is investigating transactions and documents related to assets, including:

  • Seven Springs, a 212-acre property north of New York City, Trump intended to turn into a golf course.

  • Trump National Golf Club near Los Angeles.

Read More: Meet Donald Trump’s next enemies: the 15 New York prosecutors and investigators who are prepared to pepper the former president with civil and criminal investigations that make history

James has already won a victory over the Trump family. In November 2019, Trump solved a case for $ 2 million. He and his children were accused of misusing the Trump Foundation’s funds for personal gain.

The case alleged that Trump had used the charity’s assets to impact the 2016 primaries.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius employs former Trump tax advisor Sheri Dillon, according to Reuters.

The Trump Organization did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment.

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