Trump Organization seeking to shield documents from New York attorney general

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Source: ABC News

Donald Trump's namesake company is invoking attorney-client privilege in an attempt to shield certain documents from the New York Attorney General's office, which is conducting an investigation that will follow the president once he leaves office.

The attorney general's office is looking into whether the Trump Organization improperly inflated the value of its Seven Springs Estate in Westchester County to claim a $21 million tax deduction.

The company is asserting privilege over documents involving Ralph Mastromonaco, an engineer involved in the appraisal.

"There is no accountant-client privilege, and there is no engineer-developer privilege," Eric Haren, of the attorney general's office, said Tuesday during oral arguments.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-organization-seeking-to-shield-documents-from-new-york-attorney-general/ar-BB1bXae5?li=BBnbcA1&ocid=DELLDHP

[beachbumbob]

1. No such thing as privilege when investigating a crime

[sakabatou]

2. They look soooo innocent

[marylandblue]

3. No privilege over engineering reports, except in rare cases.

Appraisals wouldn't qualify.

[RAB910]

4. Who is defending Trump? Rudy's cousin?

[DemoTex]

10. Rudy's cousin Vinny ..

Know what I mean, Vern?

[Grasswire2]

5. what will happen when his billion debt is called and he has no money for atty?

Nobody will work for him, eventually. He stiffs everyone. And there's no cachet in his name/brand anymore.

[japple]

16. He might decide that it's safer to be in prison than an at-large private citizen.

eom

[eggplant]

22. he's been grifting like crazy to raise funds.

I believe he's above the $200M mark.

[leftieNanner]

26. Wait just a darned minute!

Are you telling me that Rudy and Jenna and Sidney aren't the Best Top Notch Cream O' The Crop attorneys in the whole US of A???

And isn't working for Donnie the Magnificent payment enough??

[Cha]

6. 'Cause they're guilty as SHIT

[iluvtennis]

8. ++++ agree. nt

[UpInArms]

7. What? No NDA?

[cstanleytech]

9. So if the attorney is aware his client was going to or was continuing to commit an ongoing criminal

is it really covered by attorney client privilege?

[ailsagirl]

11. Not a good idea

[Marie Marie]

12. Here we go - more bullshit stalling, delaying and appealing. It never ends.

[bluestarone]

14. AGREE, but

Maybe AFTER he's out this bullshit will stop!! He's LONG OVERDUE to be in PRISON

[herding cats]

13. He was spanked on this one earlier today.

Last edited Tue Dec 15, 2020, 06:20 PM - Edit history (1)

https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/trump-organization-must-cough-up-docs-on-seven-springs-engineer-to-new-york-attorney-general-manhattan-judge-rules/

Trump Organization Must Cough Up Docs on Seven Springs Engineer to New York Attorney General, Manhattan Judge Rules

Advancing an investigation likely to trail the outgoing Commander-in-Chief long into his post-presidency, a Manhattan judge ordered the Trump Organization and its attorney to turn over documents to New York Attorney General Letitia James about an engineer for a 212-acre Westchester estate.

Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron, who previously found those documents to be privileged, said his prior ruling “missed the forest for the trees,” reciting his decision following more than 1.5 hours of oral arguments.

The ruling could force the Trump Organization to divulge reams of information about engineer Ralph Mastromonaco, who was retained to develop the Seven Springs estate, one of four properties currently subject to a broad investigation into whether Eric Trump and various corporate entities improperly inflated assets to obtain tax benefits.

“By Dec. 18, 2020 the Trump Org. must produce all communications with Ralph Mastromonaco to the New York Attorney General’s office,” Engoron ruled.

[leftieNanner]

27. And Up The Judicial Food Chain We Go!!

Maybe Boof Boy and Ms. Handmaid will pay their fares this time.

[Miigwech]

15. Tough shit, trump. Sucks to be you.

Go cry to your base, base.

[niyad]

17. Apart from all the other issues, it is a woman AG, and we know how the sexual predator in chief

quakes in terror of smart, strong, capable women!

[AZ8theist]

19. AND...........a woman of color, no less....

Sucks to be you, DOTURD!!!!

[niyad]

20. Doturd! I am sooooo stealing that!

[AZ8theist]

24. That's been around for quite awhile...

But you're welcome to it!!!

[niyad]

25. I know dotard, of course, but this is more fun.

[AZ8theist]

32. Good people object to the "tard" descriptor...

And I understand that. Someone changed it to "turd", because, well, he IS A PILE OF SHIT.

[davsand]

18. Materials used for property tax values should be subject to inspection by anybody.

At least, that's how the FOIA laws work here in Illinois. Once evidence was submitted to tax assessors ir was not seen as private or confidential. I used to have to warn taxpayers about that when they submitted personal documents to get tax exemptions and abatements. I still do that if it comes up at the township level. I have actually handed taxpayers black markers to block out a SS number or a credit account number on loan documents.

Maybe other states have different laws about that, I honestly have no idea. Even an appraisal is not viewed as a private document when it is submitted as evidence in property tax cases.



Laura

[Laura PourMeADrink]

21. I'm curious what they are hiding. Remember reading about this deal in October

They said it was worth x and based on nearby prop values IF developed. Trump tried to develop it for golf course and couldn't get approval. Anyway sounded half way legit to me. Hate to say. But prosecutors must suspect something

[davsand]

23. One value for property taxes taxes a higher one for financing seems to be the MO.

Bank fraud or property tax fraud--you decide! Sometimes those values for a property are vastly different depending on what the report is being used for. It's not uncommon and it's nothing new. Even at a local level it is not uncommon. There's been a fair amount of awareness of tRump's filings on the Chicago property being on "the low side" when they have appealed taxes. It's outside my jurisdiction, but the assessor's organization has had articles about it in their journal.

He's not alone. I see it several times a year when owners say a property is over valued by the tax man but they are trying to sell it--it's an active listing--for much more.




Laura

[Laura PourMeADrink]

28. Yes. Understand that. But in this deal, it seemed clear. The

firm said it was worth x amount based on property market values in the prestigous area of NY. I thought a report of those findings was public, maybe not. Maybe the value is based on if the land was developed vs. raw. So trump couldn't claim developed property value as a charitable deduction.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

30. Wonder how much we're talking about. Difference between

Developed land and raw land

[badboy67]

29. If you've done nothing improper,

then you have nothing to hide.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

31. And... For him, he accuses others of exactly what he is doing or

has done. Remember vividly him saying he knows better than anyone how you get around laws and handle politicians. He sounded so believable then to many. That he knew how things worked and he alone could clean it up. Another aha moment... He NEVER even tried to do that did he? Perhaps because he knew he had committed crimes before presidency. And if he said " stop x". He knew he couldn't because he was liable???

Perhaps on day one he should have pardoned himself for prior crimes?