The New York state attorney general’s office announced Tuesday evening that it has expanded its probe into the Trump Organization from a civil matter over financial fudging into a criminal investigation. New York Attorney General Letitia James had been conducting a civil inquiry into the Trump-owned business and whether it fiddled with its asset valuations, on one hand inflating their value for more favorable loan terms and then lowballing the same asset’s worth on tax forms to receive favorable tax breaks. The expansion of the probe into possible criminal wrongdoing creates a new set of consequences, as civil matters typically involve fines and financial repercussions, while a criminal proceeding could result in much stiffer penalties, including jail time.
Former President Donald Trump said the New York attorney general office's decision to work alongside the Manhattan district attorney in a criminal probe of his business dealings is nothing more than a "continuation of the greatest political Witch Hunt in the history of the United States."