A judge in New York has ordered attorneys for the Trump Organization to give the state attorney general unfavorable documents by Feb. 4.
Friday’s order comes as part of Attorney General Letitia James’ broader investigation into whether the value of his assets has changed illegally – an allegation that emerged in 2019 from Michael Cohen, the former president’s confidant.
Prior to the order, the state Supreme Court reviewed the documents submitted by Morgan, Lewis and Bockius LLP.
“Morgan Lewis is hereby directed to submit to the petitioner by 4 February 2021 that all documents marked by this court as’ not privileged ‘be sent to all parties in the privilege book under separate cover,’ reads Friday’s order of Judge Arthur Engoron.
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The court noted that he considered much of the communication to be unprivileged, although Lewis, the attorney general of the Trump Organization, indicated otherwise. The court said these documents “addressed business tasks and decisions, not exchanges that sought legal advice.”
Friday’s order follows another from Engoron who gives James access to documents between the Trump Organization and Ralph Mastromanaco, an engineer he worked with.
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“Once again, justice and the rule of law prevailed,” James said at the time. “We will move immediately to ensure that the Trump organization complies with the court order and submits records related to our investigation. My office’s ongoing investigation will continue as we continue to follow the facts wherever it may lead.”
James also sued Eric Trump, the former president’s son, and Engoron backed her in a decision in September.
The Trump organization had earlier accused James of playing politics. ‘While we try to cooperate in good faith at all times with the investigation, the NYAG’s continued harassment of the company as we approach the election (and the filing of this motion on the first day of the Republican National Convention) reaffirms this. once an investigation is just about politics, ”reads a statement last year by email by Alan Garten, chief legal officer of the Trump Organization.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.