Trump sues NY AG Letitia James to block access to family trust, in her $250M civil suit

Trump attorneys say James in her suit "seeks only attention for herself and retribution against President Trump."
Donald Trump, Aug. 6, 2022, Dallas, Texas

Former President Trump has filed a lawsuit in Florida to stop New York Attorney General Letitia James from procuring documents from his trust, after she filed a civil fraud case seeking $250 million from the Trump family. 

"Crooked and highly partisan James now thinks it is the business of the State of New York to go after my revocable trust and pry into my private estate plan, only to look for ways to recklessly injure me, my family, my businesses, and my tens of millions of supporters," Trump said Wednesday in an statement.

The former president filed the lawsuit in a Palm Beach County court, where his revocable trust is located. 

James, a Democrat, filed the case against Trump, his three eldest children and several business associates in September alleging they were involved in deceiving tax authorities, insurers and lenders allegedly with inflated property values. The suit is part of the investigation James started in 2019 on the matter related to the Trump Organization.

Trump attorneys wrote in their 41-page filing: "Using the Civil Action, James seeks unprecedented oversight of President Trump's business and financial affairs – including control over President Trump's revocable trust – as she grandstands in demanding $250 million in 'restitution' for the people of New York. In truth, James knows that no restitution is owed but seeks only attention for herself and retribution against President Trump."