Donald Trump refuses to answer prosecutors’ questions after pleading the Fifth

Former President Donald Trump has refused to answer questions from New York prosecutors about his resort and real estate businesses.

Former US President Donald Trump has refused to answer questions from New York prosecutors – led by State Attorney-General Letitia James – about his resort and real estate businesses.

“I declined to answer the questions under the rights and privileges afforded to every citizen under the United States Constitution,” Mr Trump said in a statement, referring to the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

“I once asked, ‘If you’re innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment?’” Mr Trump said, according to the New York Post.

“Now I know the answer to that question. When your family, your company, and all the people in your orbit have become the targets of an unfounded, politically motivated witch hunt supported by lawyers, prosecutors, and the fake news media, you have no choice.”

Trump wrote that the FBI’s raid on Monday of his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida — reportedly a search for presidential records that may contain classified information — “wiped out any uncertainty” about whether to co-operate.

The ex-commander-in-chief showed up at a car park in the Manhattan building where one of Ms James’ offices is located just before 9am, rolling up in one of several black SUVs that escorted him.

Mr Trump said in an extended statement afterwards that Ms James “openly campaigned on the policy of ‘Get and Destroy Trump.’”

Former US President Donald Trump raises his fist while walking to a vehicle outside of Trump Tower in New York City (Photo by STRINGER / AFP)

Letitia James says her office has evidence that Mr Trump’s company used “fraudulent or misleading” valuations of its skyscrapers, golf clubs and other assets to secure loans and tax breaks.

“James developed a political platform and made a career out of maliciously attacking me and my business before she was even elected, or reviewed one of the millions of pages of documents we willingly produced,” the ex-president said.

“We cannot permit a renegade and out-of-control prosecutor to use this investigation as a means of advancing her political career.”

Mr Trump added, “I did nothing wrong, which is why, after five years of looking, the Federal, State and local governments, together with the fake news media, have found nothing.”

The former president departed Trump Tower at 8:34am for the meeting as a helicopter trailed him and his multi-car caravan.

The arrival followed reports on Tuesday that Mr Trump would be grilled as part of a probe into the Trump Organisation.

In a social media post, the 76-year-old Floridian confirmed the meeting, while moaning the probe is a “witch hunt” and claiming Ms James is a “racist.”

Ms James says her office has evidence that Mr Trump’s company used “fraudulent or misleading” valuations of its buildings, golf clubs and other assets to obtain loans and tax breaks.

Eric Trump, the former president’s son and a Trump Organisation executive, defended his father on social network Truth Social.

“As my father sits for a deposition in front of the most corrupt New York Attorney-General in the United States (Letitia James), I want to remind all (sic) Americans EXACTLY who this evil woman is,” he seethed.

Former US President Donald Trump walks to a vehicle in New York City. (Photo by STRINGER / AFP)

“The weaponisation of the legal system – everything you are seeing – it is all a co-ordinated effort to stop what they know will happen in 2024.”

As spokesman for the Attorney-General n did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The deposition follows years of delays, lawsuits and appeals in connection to the investigation — launched in 2019 based on the sworn testimony of former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen.

Ms James recently postponed depositions for Mr Trump and his adult children following the July passing of Ivanka Trump. Ivanka and Donald Jr. have since been deposed.

The Trump Organisation’s finances are also the subject of a probe conducted by Manhattan prosecutors.

The former president is facing a slew of legal troubles.

The Department of Justice is also investigating Mr Trump’s role in attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election and his culpability in the violent January 6, 2021, Washington DC riot.

Meanwhile, Georgia prosecutors are mulling subpoenaing Mr Trump in connection with an election fraud inquiry in the state.

Mr Trump has denied all accusations of wrongdoing as he considers launching a White House bid for the third consecutive presidential cycle.

This story was published by the New York Post and has been reproduced with permission

Originally published as Donald Trump refuses to answer prosecutors’ questions after pleading the Fifth