A bomb threat has delayed the USD $250 million (AUD $167m) lawsuit against Donald Trump.
The Los Angeles Times reported that a bomb threat was called in lower Manhattan just as the hearing of the fraud lawsuit against the former US President, his three eldest children and the Trump organization, was about to commence.
A state court spokesperson disclosed to the outlet that the threat mentioned numerous locations in Manhattan during a 911 call.
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As a result, the courthouse at 60 Center St - which, funnily enough, features in the Law and Order opening - was shut down and thoroughly searched it.
“Operations were minimally affected for less than 30 minutes,” said Lucian Chalfen, spokesperson for the courthouse said.
Ultimately, the bomb threat was unfounded.
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An NYPD spokesperson told the Los Angeles Times that the department had no further information about the incident.
Law enforcement is on high alert across New York due to another trial of Trump's, where he's facing allegations he paid adult entertainment actor Stormy Daniels hush money in 2016.
Trump remains adamant that he is innocent and has even encouraged his supporters to protest and 'take our nation back!' via his social media platform, Truth Social.
The $250 million lawsuit against Trump, his organization and his family was launched by New York Attorney General Letitia James back in September.
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A statement from James read: “The lawsuit alleges that Donald Trump, with the help of his children Donald Trump Jr, Ivanka Trump and Eric Trump, and senior executives of the Trump Organization, falsely inflated his net worth by billions of dollars to induce banks to lend money to the Trump Organization on more favorable terms than would otherwise have been available to the company, to satisfy continuing loan covenants, induce insurers to provide insurance coverage for higher limits and lower premiums, and to gain tax benefits, among other things,” the statement reads.
James alleges: “The complaint demonstrates that Donald Trump falsely inflated his net worth by billions of dollars to unjustly enrich himself and to cheat the system, thereby cheating all of us.
“He did this with the help of the other defendants.”
The New York Attorney General also claimed that 'the conduct alleged in this action also violates federal criminal law, including issuing false statements to financial institutions and bank fraud'.
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She added: “We are referring those criminal violations that we’ve uncovered to the United States attorney for the southern district of New York and the Internal Revenue Service.”
“We are requiring Mr Trump and the Trump Organization to disgorge the financial benefits obtained through the persistent fraudulent practices, an estimated a baseline at the minimum of $250m and to appoint an independent monitor at the Trump Organization to oversee compliance financial reporting valuations and disclosures to lenders, insurers and tax authorities for no less than five years.”
James wants to bar Trump and his organization from 'entering any New York State commercial real estate acquisition for five years' as well as ban the former POTUS from applying for loans for five years.
James concluded: “I want to be clear. White collar financial crime is not a victimless crime.”
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“Claiming you have money that you do not have does not amount to the art of the deal. It’s the art of the steal… No one is above the law.”
A spokesperson for Trump replied to the lawsuit, which you can read here.
Topics: News, Donald Trump, Crime