# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2022, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/101 "2022-09-22T16:01:31Z")
When will they be done the audit? Trump implied that was he only thing that kept him from releasing his tax returns (All BS, I know) Also, will his returns be evidence in the NY case and, if so, will they then be a public record? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2022, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/102 "2022-09-22T16:07:58Z")
Mazars will almost certainly have copies of his tax returns and have provided such to James. I don’t believe that evidence used in civil cases automatically becomes public record though - why would it? ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2022, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/103 "2022-09-22T16:29:42Z")
They will if they are used as evidence in a trial. Evidence in a trial is public, unless the judge grants an order that certain items should be sealed. I’m sure Trump will move for that. But a trial is at least two years – if not much longer – away. I expect the country will be done with Trump the man, if not Trumpism, long before then. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2022, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/104 "2022-09-22T16:50:29Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > > [@ThelmaLou](#): > > > > I’ve thought this from Day One. Every time the man opens his yap, he’s lying, so it makes sense that his claims of wealth would be lies, too. > > In fact, listen carefully to the things he says he didn’t do - likely he did those exact things. In fact, the louder and more he brags about not doing something, the more likely it is that he actually did that very thing. And the more and louder he brags about doing something, it’s more than likely he did no such thing. A compulsive liar, that one. Right, but people don’t think he’s rich because he lies about it. They think he’s rich because he “has” lots of stuff that rich people have: golf courses, private jets, a younger, sexy wife, and buildings with his name on them. What they don’t understand is that “having” is not the same as “owning,” and that those things can be taken away from him the second he fails to service his debts. (Well, not the younger, sexy wife, but I imagine she’ll split two seconds later.) ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2022, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/105 "2022-09-22T16:57:49Z")
> [@FinsToTheLeft](#): > > > [@Aspenglow](#): > > > > Pretty soon we’ll need to use a microscope to see his remaining supporters. All that will be left are the bacteria > > I believe SARS-COV-2 is a big Trump supporter. Sure, because unlike Trump, the COVID virus is capable of gratitude and rewards Trump’s support for it by reciprocating. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2022, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/106 "2022-09-22T16:58:11Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > What they don’t understand is that “having” is not the same as “owning,” and that those things can be taken away from him the second he fails to service his debts. I don’t know what you are talking about. Just yesterday or the day before, he went on Hannity and stressed over and over that he is basically debt free and has a lot of cash on hand! Should we be doubting his word? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2022, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/107 "2022-09-22T17:09:44Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Sure, because unlike Trump, the COVID virus is capable of gratitude and rewards Trump’s support for it by reciprocating. It’s a perfect virus! ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2022, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/108 "2022-09-22T17:12:18Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > he went on Hannity and stressed over and over that he is basically debt free and has a lot of cash on hand! He so much wishes this to be true that he actually believes it. That is his superpower: he can bend his own tiny little mind to fit his desires. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2022, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/109 "2022-09-22T17:18:06Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > That is his superpower: he can bend his own tiny little mind to fit his desires. Trump (and his father before him) was strongly influenced by Norman Vincent Peale, and “The Power of Positive Thinking,” which is, in part, about self-affirmation, believing in success, and visualizing what you want. OTOH, Trump definitely seems to disregard much of the rest of the book, which is about faith, prayer, and letting go of anger. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2022, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/110 "2022-09-22T17:20:49Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > But a trial is at least two years – if not much longer – away. I expect the country will be done with Trump the man, if not Trumpism, long before then. Wishful thinking, I’m afraid. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2022, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/111 "2022-09-22T17:33:21Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I’d like to see trumpy living in a 450 sq ft apartment in a seniors retirement community, living on $2,000/mo social security and supplementing that with a part-time job as a Wal-Mart greeter. Yeah. That would make me happy. I was thinking more of a decrepit single-wide in a run down trailer park, the kind where you have to be careful where you step or you’ll fall through the floor. Just think of the adulation he’d get from his neighbors. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2022, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/112 "2022-09-22T17:43:37Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > I was thinking more of a decrepit single-wide in a run down trailer park, the kind where you have to be careful where you step or you’ll fall through the floor. Just think of the adulation he’d get from his neighbors. [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/MwLlxgE.jpeg "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/MwLlxgE) ---
**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:** [September 22, 2022, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/113 "2022-09-22T17:44:11Z")
Needs to have the word TRUMP painted all over it. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2022, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/114 "2022-09-22T18:15:00Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Trump (and his father before him) was strongly influenced by Norman Vincent Peale, and “The Power of Positive Thinking,” I’m more influenced by Lou Reed and “The Power of Positive Drinking”. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/P0F45-Fyl2E/maxresdefault.jpg "The Power of Positive Drinking") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0F45-Fyl2E) ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2022, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/115 "2022-09-22T18:21:07Z")
> [@dolphinboy](#): > > Wishful thinking, I’m afraid. A lot can happen in two years, but this [NY Times front page article](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/22/upshot/donald-trump-approval-poll.html) would tend to back your point of view: " Trump Support Remains Unmoved by Investigations, Poll Finds" > The American public’s views of former President Donald J. Trump have remained remarkably stable across a number of different measures in recent months, even as he faces multiple investigations and as he remains a central figure in the midterm elections, according to [the most recent New York Times/Siena College poll](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/09/16/upshot/september-2022-times-siena-poll-crosstabs.html). > > Voters held nearly identical views from those earlier in the summer on whether they had a favorable view of Mr. Trump, whether they thought he had committed serious federal crimes, and whom they would support in a hypothetical 2024 Trump-Biden matchup. > Mr. Trump has often boasted about the loyalty of his supporters. That loyalty has long been clear in his favorability ratings, which remained stable throughout his time in office, even during moments of peak turmoil, such as his first impeachment trial. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2022, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/116 "2022-09-22T18:31:05Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > Needs to have the word TRUMP painted all over it. In gold letters. Neon, maybe… ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2022, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/117 "2022-09-22T18:31:07Z")
[New York Business Corporation Law](https://codes.findlaw.com/ny/business-corporation-law/bsc-sect-715.html) > (h) An officer shall perform his duties as an officer in good faith and with that degree of care which an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would use under similar circumstances. In performing his duties, an officer shall be entitled to rely on information, opinions, reports or statements including financial statements and other financial data, in each case prepared or presented by: > > > (1) one or more other officers or employees of the corporation or of any other corporation of which at least fifty percentum of the outstanding shares of stock entitling the holders thereof to vote for the election of directors is owned directly or indirectly by the corporation, whom the officer believes to be reliable and competent in the matters presented, or > > > (2) counsel, public accountants or other persons as to matters which the officer believes to be within such person’s professional or expert competence, so long as in so relying he shall be acting in good faith and with such degree of care, but **he shall not be considered to be acting in good faith if he has knowledge concerning the matter in question that would cause such reliance to be unwarranted.** A person who so performs his duties shall have no liability by reason of being or having been an officer of the corporation. The bolded part is critical. James’ case depends upon his having the knowledge that what he was doing was wrong. It’s a trap. 45 can claim that his experts were feeding him bad information that he just signed off on, but that contradicts his public statements that he and only he was in charge and forces the conclusion that he was an idiot who paid no attention at all to the deals that made him a supposed billionaire. He’s either a crook or a sap. Neither one will be convincing to his base, of course. Nevertheless, defending him to anyone who is still leaning toward him but not lost in MAGA-world will be much, much harder. ---
**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:** [September 22, 2022, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/118 "2022-09-22T18:32:33Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > He’s either a crook or a sap. It’s hard to believe he would think his 11,000 sq ft apartment was 33,000 sq. ft. I’m no real estate developer, but even I would know the difference. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2022, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/119 "2022-09-22T18:34:47Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > What’s actually disturbing is that there are millions who know what Trump has done, but don’t want him punished. He is showing them that it is possible to lie, cheat and steal and get away with it. What he does doesn’t deter them. It _inspires_ them. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2022, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/120 "2022-09-22T18:43:55Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > […] and buildings with his name on them. Since people are sharing what they hope happens to Trump… I’m hoping that due to fines related to this lawsuit and the numerous lawsuits that spring up because of it from people and organizations Trump defrauded, combined with being barred from doing business in the state of New York, leads to the sale of Trump Tower New York. I would pay to witness his name coming off that building live and in person. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991.md?page=7)