Ivanka Trump on Trump Organization Investigation: It's Harassment 1:12
(CNN) -
New York Attorney General Letitia James will join the Manhattan district attorney's office in a criminal investigation against the Trump Organization, James's office said Tuesday.
The attorney general's office investigation, which has been ongoing since 2019, will also continue as an ongoing civil investigation, but the office recently informed Trump Organization officials about the criminal component.
“We have informed the Trump Organization that our investigation into the organization is no longer purely civil in nature.
We are now actively investigating the Trump Organization in a criminal capacity, along with the Manhattan District Attorney, "James spokesman Fabien Levy told CNN.
"We have no additional comments."
An attorney for the Trump Organization declined to comment when contacted by CNN.
What is the objective of the investigation?
James' office is working with Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance's Office, whose extensive investigation into the Trump Organization looks at whether the company misled lenders and insurance companies about property values and paid taxes.
Vance's office is examining millions of pages of documents that include Trump's tax returns.
advertising
A person familiar with the investigation said a pair of investigators from the New York attorney general's office, who are very familiar with the Trump Organization, have joined the district attorney's team.
Another person familiar with the matter said the New York attorney general is still conducting a civil investigation.
Former President Donald Trump has previously said that the New York attorney general's investigation is politically motivated.
Over the past two years, James' office examined issues including whether he misinflated assets in financial statements to guarantee loans for financial and tax benefits, as well as how Trump Organization employees were compensated.
Investigators have deposed several Trump Organization officials, including Eric Trump, the former president's son, and Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg.
Trump Organization