Donald Trump on Thursday blasted black state Attorney General Letitia James as ‘racist’ and claimed she leaked details of when he would arrive for his deposition in her $250 million case against his business empire.
‘I will be heading downtown to meet with a Racist who leaked that I would be there at 9:30 A.M.,’ he wrote on his Truth Social media platform.
‘The leak makes it much more difficult for the Police and Secret Service to do their job. This civil case is ridiculous, just like all of the other Election Interference cases being brought against me. If I had a fair judge, this case would have never happened. MAGA!,’ he added.
Trump waved to the crowds and pumped his fist in the air as he left Trump Tower on Thursday morning to head to James’ downtown office.
Donald Trump raises his fist to the crowd outside Trump Tower
James alleges that various Trump family members misled banks and others by providing financial statements that intentionally misstated the value of his assets, including his golf clubs and the hotels bearing his name.
Her office is seeking $250 million in damages, and a ban on Trump and three of his adult children – Ivanka, Don, Jr. and Eric – from doing business in the state ever again.
Trump arrived in New York City on Wednesday night from his home in Palm Beach, Fla. He has repeatedly attacked James for the case against him and his family.
‘Just arrived in Manhattan for a deposition in front of New York State’s RACIST, TRUMP HATING Attorney General, Letitia ‘Peekaboo’ James, in another unjust & ridiculous persecution of The 45th President of the United States,’ Trump wrote on his social media network.
Donald Trump will be deposed Thursday morning in a business case
Last week, Trump referred to Letitia James (pictured) as a ‘racist in reverse’ for pursuing a civil case against his businesses. He is now due to be deposed by her for a second time in connection with a $250 million business fraud case
Officers from the New York City Police Department (NYPD) stand near the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James
He called James a ‘lowlife’, and said the case was politically motivated.
He also said he was looking forward to showing how he built his business.
‘I built a GREAT & prosperous company, employed thousands of people, built magnificent structures all over the World, but particularly in New York, & now have to prove it to this LOWLIFE who campaigned on a ‘I will get Trump’ platform, even before knowing anything about me!
‘The good thing about the A.G. Peekaboo James “persecution” is that I will finally be able to show what a great, profitable, and valuable company I built, actually, some of the greatest real estate assets anywhere in the world.’
Trump also attacked the judge overseeing the case, Arthur Engoron, calling him ‘a highly partisan, Trump Hating Judge who was sought out, or “shopped,” by Peekaboo James.’
Trump added: ‘VERY UNFAIR. NEW YORK STATE SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THIS INJUSTICE!’
Donald Trump waves on Wednesday night as he returns to Manhattan for the first time since his arrest last week
Donald Trump is seen on Wednesday evening boarding his plane at West Palm Beach, bound for New York City
Trump is seen arriving at the airport to board his plane
The trip marks the first time that Trump has returned to New York City since his arrest and arraignment on charges of paying hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels.
The Stormy Daniels case and James’s case are not connected.
But Trump also attacked the judge in the Daniels case, calling him ‘Trump-hating’ and unfit to oversee the proceedings.
Trump and his attorneys tried to get the James case dismissed, arguing that he, as a Republican, was being ‘singled out and subject to selective treatment’ by James.
Engoron denied the former president’s move and ordered it to trial.
Engoron also rejected a separate attempt by Ivanka Trump, named in the lawsuit, to dismiss the accusations against her.
Trump previously sat for a deposition at James’ office last August, just weeks before she filed the lawsuit.
At that time, he declined to answer questions and invoked his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination more than 400 times.
Members of NYPD are seen on Wednesday putting barriers around Trump Tower ahead of the arrival of the former president
Engoron has scheduled an October 2 trial date – just before the Republican presidential primaries begin.
He agreed to allow lawyers more time to review evidence, interview witnesses and file motions.
Trump’s deposition is part of that process.
Ahead of his arrival in New York City, police were seen erecting barricades around Trump Tower.
His return to New York last week created a chaotic atmosphere around the Criminal Court, with both pro and anti-Trump factions represented.
In addition to James’ case and the hush money case brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Trump faces a third legal case in New York: a civil lawsuit resulting from columnist Jean Carroll’s claims that he raped her in a department store dressing room in the 1990s. Trump has denied the charge.
That trial is scheduled to start April 25 in Manhattan federal court.
