Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. is reaching across state lines to investigate possible criminal actions taken by the Trump Organization and its chairman, failed, one-term former President Donald Trump.
According to leaked emails obtained by WBEZ, Vance clearly believes that Trump and his company committed crimes in connection with the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago:
“Between September and November of last year, a representative from the Major Economic Crimes Bureau in the New York City District Attorney’s office exchanged emails with the Cook County recorder to inquire about obtaining records associated with Trump’s high-rise here, according to documents obtained exclusively by WBEZ.
“The documents signal that Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr.’s criminal investigation into Trump’s taxes and potential financial wrongdoing within his businesses could run, at least in part, through Chicago.”
One of those emails shows that Vance’s office formally requested the records from Cook County officials in lieu of a subpoena.
Specifically, Daniel Kenny, who works as a financial intelligence analyst for Vance, asked about a property identification number in the Trump building, with Kenny asking, “Would those be the same records I would receive if we sent you a subpoena?” He then added:
“In other words, are there any other records that the Recorder of Deeds maintains for that property that are not available to download?”
The number referenced, according to WBEZ, involved a condo:
“The property identification number cited in Kenny’s email traces back to a particular condominium in the Trump building, but WBEZ could find no connections between its owner and the ex-president, his family or anyone else affiliated with the Trump Organization.”
Former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti said the emails shed light on the direction Vance’s prosecutors are moving in as the investigation continues:
“What it says is that they believe that Trump Tower is potentially part of their investigation, that these records are going to reveal information that could be useful to them that might actually help them establish facts that can move forward their case in New York.
“If this ends up panning out, what we could end up seeing is evidence about Trump Tower Chicago being presented in a courtroom in Manhattan,”
And if Trump Tower Chicago is also part of a larger criminal act, that would mean Trump and his company are involved in a conspiracy, which could result in the Trump Organization being shut down and its assets seized.
For now, we know that New York prosecutors are leaving no stone unturned. And that alone should terrify Donald Trump.
