Watchdog In Giuliani Case Put Over Trump Organization
(HorizonPost.com) – A New York judge designated Barbara Jones, a retired U.S. federal judge who previously served as a special master in a lawsuit involving Donald Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, as the company’s monitor.
According to reports, as part of her $250 million civil fraud case accusing Trump and the Trump Organization of overvaluing assets and Trump’s net worth, New York Attorney General Letitia James won a court order to appoint an impartial monitor for the Trump Organization.
What a joke.
Court documents showed both the Attorney General’s office and attorneys for Trump nominated Jones as a candidate for the job. Jones is a current partner at Bracewell LLP law firm and served as a federal judge in Manhattan for 16 years.
Reports show Jones was appointed by the court as a special master in June 2021 to analyze information collected from Giuliani as part of an investigation into his business transactions in Ukraine.
Michael Cohen, another former Trump attorney, was the subject of a criminal investigation conducted by Jones, which resulted in Cohen pleading guilty and serving time in jail.
Giuliani has not been indicted and denies any wrongdoing. Federal prosecutors in Manhattan said that the investigation was complete and no charges would be filed.
In his ruling on November 3rd, Manhattan district court judge Engoron described the appointment of a monitor as the best method to guarantee no additional fraud or criminality at the Trump Organization, which manages hotels, golf courses, and other real estate worldwide.
Trump is appealing the “ridiculous” order of Judge Engoron. He has stated that James’ case is driven by politics and denied any misconduct.
Reports show Aaron Marcu, a former prosecutor and current partner at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer who has served as an independent monitor in several cases, and Frances McLeod, the founder of a firm specializing in compliance monitorships, were the other candidates recommended by the Attorney General’s office.
Trump and the Trump Organization also suggested Kelly Donovan, managing director at accounting company KPMG and former attorney for the New York state attorney general, as a potential candidate.
Yet another waste of taxpayer funds.
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