Trump urges New York AG James to drop civil fraud case "for the greater good of the country"

Sources close to President-elect Donald Trump's legal team have revealed that they are urging New York Attorney General Letitia James to abandon her civil fraud investigation against him, his family, and his businesses in the interest of the nation.

Trump attorney D. John Sauer wrote a letter exclusively obtained by Planet Chronicle Digital, requesting that your office dismiss the case against President Donald J. Trump, his family, and his businesses, and stipulate to vacate the Judgment and dismiss all claims with prejudice.

A $454 million civil fraud judgment was ordered against Trump in James' lawsuit against him.

Judges on a New York appeals court appeared open-minded and receptive to potentially reversing the judgment in favor of Trump, who has appealed the ruling.

Trump's "historic election victory" was highlighted by Sauer.

"Sauer wrote that President Trump has urged the nation to put aside its partisan divisions and work together for the good of the country, including ending the legal battles against him and his family that dominated the previous election cycle."

The cases against Trump, as nominated as solicitor general in the second Trump administration, were a "flashpoint of national partisan division," according to Sauer.

"As Trump's counsel and now his nominee for Solicitor General, I have witnessed firsthand the partisan divide and believe it is crucial for the well-being of our country for the conflict and legal battles to cease."

He stated, "You now have the unique chance to mend this division."

Trump's legal team, led by senior legal adviser Boris Epshteyn, has achieved a series of legal victories, culminating in Sauer's letter.

Federal Judge Tanya Chutkan granted Special Counsel Jack Smith's request to dismiss his case against Trump related to the 2020 election. Smith also dropped his appeal in the classified records case on Monday after a federal judge dismissed the charges altogether in July, ruling that he was unlawfully appointed as special counsel.

Judge Juan Merchan granted Trump's request to dismiss charges from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's case and removed the sentencing date for the president-elect from the schedule in New York v. Trump.

"This case warrants the same treatment," Sauer wrote.

In James' case, the statute of limitations prevents any claims or liability.

Sauer emphasized that her case lacked several key elements, including victims, complaints, misstatements, causation, and injuries or losses.

"President Trump gave clear and unambiguous disclaimers to commercial parties, who made decisions based on their own due diligence. Every loan and insurance payment was made in full, either on time or early."

Sauer stated that Trump's business partners were pleased with these transactions and gained substantial profits, exceeding $100 million.

Sauer stated that the evidence conclusively proves that the defendants' counterparties were not deceived, they conducted their own due diligence, and willingly participated in the highly profitable business transactions, and that the challenged statements did not impact the terms of any transaction.

He stated that they were fully repaid on schedule or beforehand.

The chilling effect of this case is crushing to businesses in New York, who are being forced to flee to states where standardless enforcement and excessive punishment are not present.

"President Trump is a highly successful developer in New York, as evidenced by his rebuilding of the New York skyline, creation of thousands of jobs, revitalization of the Wollman Rink, development of the $3 billion West Side Railyards, and involvement in the Jacob Javits Center. However, this lawsuit against him serves no public purpose."

Trump's landslide victory and upcoming inauguration as the 47th president were highlighted by Sauer.

He also took note of comments made by previous presidents, particularly on October 3, 1863, during a period of significant national division, when President Lincoln issued the Thanksgiving Proclamation.

"President Lincoln urged the American people to come together and acknowledge the blessings of liberty with one heart and one voice, while Sauer wrote that he implored the Almighty to heal the wounds of the nation and restore it to peace, harmony, tranquility, and union."

Sauer requested that the case be dismissed with prejudice, invoking the same spirit of unity.

Trump and other defendants were found liable for fraud, falsifying business records, issuing false financial statements, conspiring to falsify false financial statements, and committing insurance fraud, as ruled by New York Judge Arthur Engoron in a letter written by Sauer this year.

In September 2023, before the non-jury trial started, Engoron ruled that Trump and the Trump Organization had committed fraud while building their real estate empire by deceiving banks, insurers, and others by overvaluing their assets and exaggerating their net worth on paperwork used in making deals and securing financing.

Trump was initially fined $355 million, which has since grown to approximately $470 million due to daily interest accruals of around $112,000.

Trump's legal team argued that the initial requested bond was unprecedented for a private company and that posting it in the judgment's full amount was a practical impossibility.

In March, the appeals court reduced Trump's bond payment, and he paid $175 million.

If required, Trump has pledged to battle the case up to the highest court in the U.S.

Trump and his family maintained their innocence, with the ex-president asserting that his assets had been undervalued. Trump's legal team emphasized that his financial statements contained disclaimers and urged banks to perform their own evaluations.

During the trial, Trump's lawyers presented witnesses, including former Deutsche Bank executives, who stated that the bank aimed to gain more business from Trump, whom they considered a valuable client.

In the case, Trump's defense presented expert witnesses, including New York University accounting professor Eli Bartov, who examined the financial statements at dispute and concluded there was no evidence of fraudulent accounting practices.

Last month, Bartov stated that Trump's financial statements adhered to accounting standards, and he attributed any discrepancies, such as a significant increase in the estimated value of his Trump Tower penthouse, to errors.

"Bartov stated that he found no evidence of any accounting fraud and that Trump's financial statements were not materially misstated."