Jonathan Stempel, Karen Freifeld

NEW YORK (Reuters). New York’s Attorney General asked a State Judge to place Donald Trump in contempt for failing to hand over documents she requested for a civil probe of the business practices of former President U.S. Trump.

Attorney General Letitia J. James filed in court that Trump didn’t comply fully with the court order to him by March 31.

James requested that Trump is fined 10,000 per day and possibly more until he agrees.

James stated in a statement that “the judge’s order is crystal clear: Donald J. Trump has to comply with our subpoenas and hand over pertinent documents to my office.” Trump has chosen to ignore a court order rather than complying with it.

Trump lawyers did not reply to inquiries for comment. Trump denied wrongdoing repeatedly and called the investigation a “witch hunting.”

James’ three year probe, and an adjoining criminal investigation led by Alvin Bragg at Manhattan District Court, have focused on whether Trump Organization misvalued its real property properties to receive tax deductions or favorable loans.

James stated last week that her investigation had revealed “significant evidence” to suggest that the financial statements of the company for over a decade “relied upon misleading asset valuations, and other misrepresentations in order to secure economic advantages.”

James questions how Trump Organization values the Trump brand, as well as property such as golf clubs in New York or Scotland, and Trump’s penthouse apartment at midtown Manhattan’s Trump Tower.

Justice Arthur Engoron from the New York state court, Manhattan issued a directive to Trump that he produce all documents subject to the subpoena before March 3. Trump was also ordered to testify under oath with his adult children Donald Trump Jr.

Trump was granted an extension to March 31, 2018, for documents production. Trump and his family asked for a court of appeals to reverse the state’s decision requiring them to testify.

“THE SHIP HAS…SAILED”

The former president’s lawyer objected in court on March 31 to the subpoena. He claimed it was “grossly broad” and was burdensome.

James claimed Thursday’s file that Engoron’s Order was not an “opening offer” which would have allowed Trump to renegotiate subpoenas.

She said that “The ship is long gone on Trump’s inability to raise any such objections,”

James stated that Trump’s “purported meticulous participation” in his company made it seem unbelievable that “nearly no documents” were available, suggesting that he was involved with asset valuations.

James stated that Trump did not produce any other tax returns between 2011 and 2018, but her office received them. She also said Trump refused to provide additional documents, notes or documents in Trump’s handwriting.

Mazars USA, Trump’s trusted accounting firm, cut all ties in February with the Trump Organization. They said they could not stand by a decade worth of financial statements.

The Trumps have called James’ probe “a politically-motivated gambit that was commenced in bad faith,” and intended to advance her career at their expense.

James is a Democrat and will be running for reelection this November. In 2024, Trump could run for a second term as White House President.

The civil probe continues amid uncertainty regarding Bragg’s criminal investigation, after the resignations in February of its two leading prosecutors.

According to New York Times reports, Bragg who assumed office in January, inherited Cyrus Vance Jr’s criminal probe, and expressed doubts about Trump being charged.

Bragg stated that his office is still investigating the matter.

He stated that “prosecutors cannot or do not only bring cases that are slam-dunks,” and that they were fulfilling their duty. “I promise that my office will publicly declare the conclusion to our investigation. This applies regardless of whether we bring charges or proceed with indictment.