Trump Forms New Company, Bringing Action From New York

Donald Trump's business operation was hit with a new accusation Thursday when New York's attorney general told a court that the former president might be trying to dodge any punishment resulting from her fraud lawsuit—partly by starting a new company. Letitia James' office wrote in the filing that days before the suit was filed last month, Trump's lawyers established a new company in Delaware, naming it Trump Organization II. Forming another company, the filing said, means the Trump team "appears to be taking steps to restructure its business to avoid existing responsibilities under New York law," possibly by moving assets out of New York, the New York Times reports.

In the filing Thursday, James' office asked that Trump's company be prohibited from selling or transferring assets without the court's approval, per the AP. A lawyer for Trump called the filing a political stunt. "We have repeatedly provided assurance, in writing, that the Trump Organization has no intention of doing anything improper," Alina Habba said. The state's filing conceded that it had received assurances but still wants the court to appoint an independent monitor. A judge scheduled a hearing for Oct. 31. (More Trump Organization stories.)