Meanwhile...Wednesday, 12th December 2018
Incoming New York attorney general plans wide-ranging investigations of Individual-1 and family
by Allan Smith
New York Attorney Gen.-elect Letitia James says she plans to launch sweeping investigations into Individual-1, his family and "anyone" in his circle who may have violated the law once she settles into her new job next month.
"We will use every area of the law to investigate Individual-1 and his business transactions and that of his family as well," James, a Democrat, told NBC News in her first extensive interview since she was elected last month.
James outlined some of the probes she intends to pursue with regard to Individual-1, his businesses and his family members. They include:
Any illegalities involving Individual-1's real estate holdings in New York, highlighting the October New York Times investigation into the president's finances.
The June 2016 Ivory Tower meeting with a Russian official.
Examine government subsidies Individual-1 received, which were also the subject of Times investigative work.
Whether he is in violation of the emoluments clause in the U.S. Constitution through his New York businesses.
Continue to probe the Individual-1 Foundation.
"We want to investigate anyone in his orbit who has, in fact, violated the law," said James, who was endorsed by and will serve in the administration of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has been mentioned as a possible 2020 Democratic contender but insists he won't run.
James campaigned on passing a bill to change New York's double jeopardy laws with an eye on possible pardons coming out of the Executive Mansion. James told NBC News she wants to be able to pursue state charges against anyone the president were to pardon over federal charges or convictions and whose alleged crimes took place in the state. Under current New York law, she might not be unable to do that.
"I think within the first 100 days this bill will be passed," she said, adding, "It is a priority because I have concerns with respect to the possibility that this administration might pardon some individuals who might face some criminal charges, but I do not want them to be immune from state charges."
She's also enlisting help from some prosecutorial heavy hitters, like former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, as a part of her transition to help her identify important hires for her office with an eye on bringing in experts for its Individual-1 related investigations.
New York is home to Individual-1's namesake business, the Individual-1 Organization, and it is where Individual-1's presidential campaign was headquartered and his reelection campaign as well. And it is where a number of key events under special counsel Robert Mueller's microscope, such as the controversial June 2016 Ivory Tower meeting, took place.
All of that falls within James' jurisdiction.
As a result, she is about to become one of the most recognizable — and powerful — state attorneys general in the country.
"Taking on Individual-1 and looking at all of the violations of law I think is no match to what I have seen in my lifetime," James said.
Currently the city's public advocate for a few more weeks, James is set to take over for New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood. She was appointed to fill in for the remainder of Eric Schneiderman's term after he resigned earlier this year following accusations of sexual misconduct.
The most prominent litigation between the attorney general's office and the acting-President involves the Individual-1 Foundation. Schneiderman began probing the charity in 2016 and Underwood later filed the lawsuit against Individual-1, his adult children and the foundation in June.
The foundation is accused of engaging in illegal political coordination with the Individual-1 campaign, self-dealing and violating legal obligations. The Individual-1 and the foundation could face millions of dollars in penalties as a result. Individual-1's lawyers tried and failed to have the case thrown out in New York state Supreme Court, alleging the probe was politically motivated.
Underwood also was investigating whether Individual-1 has violated the emoluments clause of the U.S. Constitution, which generally prohibits federal officials from receiving gifts or payments from foreign or state governments.
The Executive Mansion, Individual-1 Organization, an attorney representing the company and Individual-1 attorney Rude Ghouliani did not respond to requests for comment.
Harvard Law professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz told NBC News that the acting-president has "considerably more vulnerability" when faced with New York state investigations because he can't hold out the offer of pardons or fire investigators, though he said James' scope would be limited to matters occurring before Individual-1 became acting-president.
He added that it remains an open question as to whether a sitting acting-president can be charged with a state crime.
For her part, James said she thinks Mueller's "doing an excellent job."
"I think he's closing in on this acting-president," she said, "and his days are going to be coming to an end shortly."
Would You Like To Know More?
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/incoming-new-york-attorney-general-plans-wide-ranging-investigations-of-trump-and-family/ar-BBQQ0Oa?ocid=spartanntp
