Choose desires sworn statements on Trump’s use of Post-it notes

Judge Arthur Engoron said he wanted sworn statements describing the Trump Group's document retention and destruction coverage, in addition to a overview of 5 boxes tied to Trump that have been situated in an off-site storage facility. The circumstances should be met by May 20, in any other case the choose mentioned he would restore the contempt finding and apply it retroactively.

Engoron agreed to allow Trump to put the cash in an escrow account till the former President's enchantment of the contempt ruling is completed.

The decide stopped the clock on the wonderful as of last Friday when Trump's attorneys submitted extra sworn statements, including one from Trump, about his effort to comply with the subpoena from the New York legal professional common's workplace for information.

New York Attorney Normal Letitia James mentioned in a press release that Wednesday's contempt choice sends a clear message to Trump and his group, which she mentioned has tried to "thwart" the investigation for years, that "no one can evade accountability."

"We are going to proceed to enforce the law and search answers as a part of this investigation," James mentioned.

The New York attorney general's workplace moved to hold Trump in contempt after he failed to comply with a subpoena for documents issued in December 2021. The attorney common's office is investigating the accuracy of monetary statements the Trump Group provided to lenders, insurers and for tax benefits.

At a hearing Wednesday, Andrew Amer, an attorney for the state, homed in on the difficulty of the Post-it notes, which Trump was recognized to use to speak along with his workers, and whether they were turned over.

"To our knowledge, we haven't seen any documents which have Submit-its on them. And that is one of many odd things concerning the manufacturing up to now given the statements that was a way for Mr. Trump to speak," Ames mentioned. He argued the dealing with of Publish-it notes should be included within the doc retention and destruction policy.

Alina Habba, an lawyer for Trump, stated she was informed by the Trump Organization's common counsel that all Post-it notes had been already produced to the attorney general's office.

"It's a bit of comical," she informed the decide, whereas holding up a stack of Put up-its. "I don't have a formal observe on Publish-its, do you?"

The choose said they might start a new observe within the regulation: the Submit-it affidavit.

The choose said he additionally needed Trump's legal professionals to handle any efforts to succeed in former government assistants to Trump and whether or not they may very well be located.

This story has been updated with additional developments and background data.

CNN's Shawna Mizelle contributed to this report.