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Wednesday 13 March 2019

As New York probes business deals, Trump cries 'HARASSERS'

By MICHAEL R. SISAK Services Committee, said
Associated Press last week that the bank is
NEW YORK (AP) — New cooperating.
York's attorney general has Deutsche Bank has been
opened a civil investigation one of the few major banks
into President Donald willing to regularly lend to
Trump's business dealings, Trump, whose past financial
acting after his former troubles scared off large
personal lawyer and fixer New York banks. Trump's
told Congress that he company borrowed billions
exaggerated his wealth of dollars from the German
to obtain loans. Trump bank over the years.
tweeted an apparent In May, five Democratic
response Tuesday night, members of the House
decrying his home state of Representatives sent a
and its governor as letter to Deutsche Bank
"PRESIDENTIAL HARASSERS." In this Jan. 6, 2019 file photo, Attorney General of New York, Letitia James, smiles during an inau- CEO John Cryan asking
Attorney General Letitia guration ceremony in New York. the bank to turn in any
James issued subpoenas Associated Press records relating to Trump's
accounts and any ties to
Monday to Deutsche Bank the group of PRESIDENTIAL Russia. The bank refused,
and Investors Bank seeking HARASSERS," Trump saying it had to respect
records related to four tweeted . "No wonder legal requirements to keep
Trump real estate projects people are fleeing the client data private.
and his failed 2014 bid to State in record numbers. James, a Democrat newly
buy the NFL's Buffalo Bills, The Witch Hunt continues!" elected to office, pledged
according to a person Cuomo's office didn't to look into Trump's business
familiar with the inquiry. immediately respond. practices, saying after her
The person wasn't Deutsche Bank said in a victory last November that
authorized to discuss the statement that it remains she'd be "shining a bright
matter publicly and spoke "committed to cooperating light into every dark corner
on condition of anonymity. with authorized of his real estate dealings
The New York Times first investigations." Messages and every dealing."
reported the subpoenas. left with New Jersey-based Trump has complained
Trump's former lawyer, Investors Bank and the that James is waging
Michael Cohen, told Trump Organization were a politically motivated
Congress in late February not immediately returned. vendetta against him. Her
that Trump exaggerated The subpoenas issued by office is also overseeing
his wealth on financial the attorney general seek a lawsuit against a Trump
statements provided to loan applications, as well as charitable foundation.
Deutsche Bank when mortgages, credit lines and James' predecessors sued
he was trying to obtain other documents related Trump over the operations
financing to buy the Bills. to the Trump International of Trump University, his real
Cohen told a House Hotel in Washington, D.C., estate school.
committee it was common buildings in Chicago and Previously, a different
for Trump to overstate his New York and a golf course New York state agency,
wealth when dealing with in the Miami area. which regulates insurance
the news media or banks Several Congressional companies, launched
and for him to understate it committees have also an inquiry into Cohen's
when it came time to pay requested documents from allegations that Trump
his taxes. Deutsche Bank. California also misled insurance
"New York State and its Rep. Maxine Waters, a companies about his
Governor, Andrew Cuomo, Democrat and head financial worth.q
are now proud members of of the House Financial