# NY AG Letitia James drops the (civil) hammer {On Trump & Family} \[9/21/2022\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [September 21, 2022, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991 "2022-09-21T16:13:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 126
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2024, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/2502 "2024-02-26T16:14:59Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > ETA, the only thing I can think of is that he does have the money, Something I read elsewhere said that _Forbes_ said Trump was worth $2.6 billion. I would _swear_ Himself said He was worth $10 billion. Something isn’t adding up… ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2024, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/2503 "2024-02-26T16:17:28Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Something isn’t adding up… It’s his math…his math, quite literally, doesn’t add up. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2024, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/2504 "2024-02-26T16:19:10Z")
Presuming that Forbes did NOT pull that $2.6BN number out of their journalistic backside, I would also presume that they have a spreadsheet somewhere. I would further presume that the NY AG’s office would (have been) be in close contact _with_ Forbes to ensure that their information syncs up. I also wonder if Michael Cohen, Allen Weisselberg, and Jeffrey McConney have anything more that could be used to horse trade with Letitia James’s office. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2024, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/2505 "2024-02-26T16:19:34Z")
It’s possible an appeal could achieve modest success, maybe knock 30-40 million off the tab, but in the mean time, nothing short of him posting the required bond prevents the AG’s office on daybreak of day 31 from seizing whatever assets they can and putting them up for sale. I understand Mar-a-Lago isn’t heavily encumbered. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2024, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/2506 "2024-02-26T16:21:24Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > Presuming that Forbes did NOT pull that $2.6BN number out of their journalistic backside, I would also presume that they have a spreadsheet somewhere. I wouldn’t put too much stock in their estimates. Michael Cohen testified about ways that Trump tried to move up the Forbes list by lying to them about his assets. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2024, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/2507 "2024-02-26T16:26:05Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Plus, I guess they’d have to give it back if he won the appeal. I’m not so sure that they would. Are there any law-talkers here who know the answer? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2024, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/2508 "2024-02-26T16:26:35Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > Are there any law-talkers here who know the answer? Yes, me. And I think they’d have to give it back. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2024, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/2509 "2024-02-26T16:29:49Z")
If they liquidate the assets, then what happens? This appeal process could go on for years; do they just have to give him back what they sold it for at auction? I would think that this would be similar to when they seize drug kingpins assests. The cars and boats can be auctioned off before the case is settled and a cash vaule assigned. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2024, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/2510 "2024-02-26T16:33:47Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > If they liquidate the assets, then what happens? This appeal process could go on for years; do they just have to give him back what they sold it for at auction? Yeah I was wondering this. Do they have to put the proceeds in some kind of escrow until the appeal is complete. As Trump would have had to do if he has the cash. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2024, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/2511 "2024-02-26T16:41:31Z")
This was my assumption. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2024, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/2512 "2024-02-26T16:57:50Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > As Trump would have had to do if he has the cash. Yeah, that’s what makes me wonder. Why have a process where the defendant has to put cash in escrow to appeal, if that’s what will happen anyway? ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2024, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/2513 "2024-02-26T17:07:30Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Michael Cohen testified about ways that Trump tried to move up the Forbes list by lying to them about his assets. Trump would never do such a thing. That was all John Barron’s doing ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2024, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/2514 "2024-02-26T17:09:59Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > Why have a process where the defendant has to put cash in escrow to appeal, if that’s what will happen anyway? I mean it makes sense to me. The state needs to see the money before you can appeal (or at least before the process of giving the money to the plaintiff can be halted, for the appeal to take place), that can happen the easy way or the hard way. You can hand over the cash and put it escrow, or the state can seize you stuff, sell it, and put the results in escrow (and if you don’t appeal that money will go straight to the plaintiff) . ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2024, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/2515 "2024-02-26T17:12:18Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > I mean it makes sense to me. The state needs to see the money before you can appeal, that can happen the easy way or the hard way. You can hand over the cash and put it escrow, or the state can seize you stuff, sell it, and put the results in escrow (and if you don’t appeal that money will go straight to the plaintiff) That does make sense. However, I’m unaware of any requirement to actually put the money in escrow. As this happens so rarely, there could be rules I haven’t seen. If I have a client in this position, I’ll do the research. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2024, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/2516 "2024-02-26T17:20:02Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > I would further presume that the NY AG’s office would (have been) be in close contact _with_ Forbes to ensure that their information syncs up. I’m doubtful of that. News outlets are generally very reluctant to share their internal info with law enforcement, unless there’s a subpoena. That’s part of the protection they offer to news informants. Remember that in October, when Forbes published the article saying that Weissenman (sp?) had perjured himself, the Forbes article explicitly stated that they had documents in their possession that the AG NY did not have. It was only when the perjury issue arose that they published the e-mails. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2024, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/2517 "2024-02-26T17:22:21Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > If I have a client in this position, I’ll do the research What?!? Don’t you appreciate that we expect detailed, free, legal advice from you? 😁 ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2024, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/2518 "2024-02-26T17:25:05Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Filing the appeal has PR value (especially in a campaign). I think this is Trump’s most important consideration. Also, I don’t think he can free up this kind of money, and I don’t think anyone will give it to him. In addition, I don’t think a bonding company will touch this shit-show with a 20 foot pole. So Trump gets the PR boost of filing an appeal without spending a dime. But but you say… > [@Cardigan](#): > > in the mean time, nothing short of him posting the required bond prevents the AG’s office on daybreak of day 31 from seizing whatever assets they can and putting them up for sale. This is absolutely true. The key here is “Whatever assets **they can** ” This is where the legal team’s plan is likely to use the same delay, delay, delay tactics to stall this process as long as possible. (Jan 21, 2025), when Trump thinks he can order Letitia James arrested and imprisoned. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2024, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/2519 "2024-02-26T17:26:21Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > (Jan 21, 2025), when Trump thinks he can order Letitia James arrested and imprisoned. He probably can. “Election Interference” or some such bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2024, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/2520 "2024-02-26T17:29:42Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > there won’t be anything stopping or even slowing down the state from taking his stuff. 1. The convoluted rat’s nest of Trump companies that own other companies that own a portion of a third company that leases something to a fourth company. 2. The complicated mass of international banks and others that hold mortgages and other financial interest in Trump properties - Trump may have a partial interest or a lease for a building, but he rarely owns one outright. This takes time to untangle. 3. Trump’s lawyers will use everything they can to delay, delay, delay. Maybe they can dig up some dirt on the State lawyers who are overseeing the process of putting liens on properties. Maybe one of them once dated someone who worked for a bank that held a mortgage on a Trump property! OMG! STOP THE PROCESS! (sarcasm) ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2024, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/2521 "2024-02-26T17:31:29Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > > [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > > > (Jan 21, 2025), when Trump thinks he can order Letitia James arrested and imprisoned. > > He probably can. “Election Interference” or some such bullshit. Let the Great American Purge begin. They will make the Khmer Rouge look like amateurs. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991.md?page=125) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991.md?page=127)