Judge rejects Trump’s affidavit saying he does not have documents sought by New York’s lawyer common

The one-page signed affidavit filed with the court docket Friday was Trump's unsuccessful try to finish the civil contempt and daily effective of $10,000 per day imposed on him earlier this week by New York state Decide Arthur Engoron.

"Mr. Trump's private affidavit is totally devoid of any helpful detail. Notably, it fails to state where he stored his recordsdata, how his files had been saved within the common course of business, who had entry to such files, what, if any, the retention coverage was for such files, and, importantly, the place he believes such files are presently positioned," he wrote. The choose additionally found the sworn statement from Trump's legal professional unsatisfactory.

The choose previously said Trump could end the contempt if he complied with the subpoena or him or his attorneys detailed their efforts to seek for documents sought by the subpoena. He referred to as Trump's lawyer's earlier response "boilerplate."

In the sworn assertion signed April 27, Trump wrote, "To the perfect of my knowledge, (i) I would not have any of the paperwork requested in the subpoena dated December 1, 2021 in my personal possession." He mentioned any records could be in the possession of the Trump Group and he has approved them to adjust to the subpoena. The former President has additionally appealed that order.

In addition they stated affidavits from Trump's attorneys provide some new information about their search, however "they're inadequate to purge the finding of contempt."

If after the assessment is full and if no new data are recovered, the attorney normal's workplace said it will suggest that Trump didn't preserve records.

"It is merely not plausible that Mr. Trump authored solely three paperwork coping with the value of his property and his wealth," they wrote.

The attorney general's office said extra information nonetheless have to be searched by Trump's lawyer or HaystackID, the third-party firm hired for document production, earlier than they'd be satisfied. Among these information: all of Trump's arduous copy files in Trump Tower or its off-site storage, all of the paper files of Trump's government assistants, all electronic devices, including cell phones and computer systems, belonging to Trump and his assistants, and each property where Trump maintains a personal office or residence.

HaystackID will full many of the assessment of materials at Trump Tower by Could 6, the lawyer general's office stated. They famous that Haystack recognized two flip cellphones belonging to Trump but the lawyer common's office mentioned since Trump reportedly used a smartphone "he apparently has, or will need to have had in the past, a number of other telephones that he obtained for personal use."

In addition, investigators took subject with Trump's attorney counting on earlier searches performed by the Trump Group's lawyer in response to earlier subpoenas.

In a sworn affidavit, Trump's legal professional Alina Habba, mentioned she had checked a number of the records and had gone to Florida to talk with Trump himself. She stated Trump did not have an documents at his homes in Bedminster, New Jersey, or Mar-a-Lago, Florida.

This story has been up to date with additional particulars.