President Trump ramped up his criticism
Tuesday of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s administration, accusing him and state
Attorney General Letitia James of harassing businesses including his own and
saying high taxes and lawsuits are forcing many to flee to low-tax states like
Texas.
He suggested
the National Rifle Association could be next to go.
“People are
fleeing New York like never before. If they own a business, they are twice as
likely to flee. And if they are a victim of harassment by the A.G. of the
state, like what they are doing to our great NRA, which I think will move
quickly to Texas, where they are loved,” Trump tweeted.
“Texas will
defend them & indemnify them against political harassment by New York State
and Governor Cuomo. So many people are leaving New York for Texas and Florida
that it is totally under siege,” he continued. “First New York taxes you too
high, then they sue you, just to complete the job.”
The
president’s tweets come after he blasted the same two officials on Monday for
“harassing all of [his] New York businesses in search of anything at all they can
find to make me look as bad as possible.”
James, whom
Trump said was being used by Cuomo as a “bludgeoning tool,” has been leading
several Trump-related investigations since taking her post last year.
But in
April, James’ office also launched an investigation into the NRA’s finances,
amid a rift between the Second Amendment rights group’s leadership and
accusations of financial misconduct.
Trump, at
the time, said the organization was “under siege” by Democrats working to
“destroy” the organization.
The NRA sued
Cuomo last year, claiming that Cuomo’s “blacklisting” campaign threatened its
ability to pursue its mission. The group said it lost insurance coverage after
New York’s actions, which they claimed blocked organizations from doing
business with the NRA.
Meanwhile,
the state’s Trump-focused probes included the lawsuit against the Trump
Foundation in 2018, claiming it engaged in illegal activity and “unlawful
political coordination” to benefit Trump’s personal and business interests. The
Foundation agreed to dissolve, and James called on Trump to pay $8.4 million in
penalties and restitution as part of the settlement.
James,
before taking office, warned that she would “use every area of the law” to
investigate the Trump family.
Her office
is also currently investigating the Trump Organization for allegedly
underpaying undocumented immigrants who worked at a Trump-owned golf club. They
also subpoenaed financial records including loan applications and mortgages
from institutions including Deutsche Bank as part of a probe of Trump
Organization projects.
Trump
blasted all of the investigations on Monday as part of a “political Witch
Hunt.”
Cuomo, in
response, said he has “reduced taxes” in the state of New York, but said that
nothing Trump says “can surprise me or the people of this country.” He also
denied using James as his “tool,” reminding that she was elected by the people
of New York—not chosen by him.
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