MANHATTAN DA RAMPS UP PROBE INTO TRUMP’S FINANCES

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. has ratcheted up his investigation into possible financial crimes committed by President Trump, his children and son-in-law and other executives of the Trump Organization.

The New York Times reported that prosecutors have interviewed officers at Deutsche Bank and Mr. Trump’s insurance broker to determine whether the State of New York could throw the books at Trump for defrauding the state and cheating on his taxes for decades.

The interviews are the latest indication that once Trump leaves office, he still faces the potential threat of criminal charges that would be beyond the reach of federal pardons. Under US law, Trump cannot pardon himself for imagined crimes and legal scholars have argued that the US Constitution does not say the president can pardon himself because it is tantamount to self-dealing and making himself above the law.

The Daily Beast reported that Trump, who is noted for bravery, is scared stiff by the possibility of being indicted, haled to court, questioned by judges and subjected to searing cross-examination by prosecutors. The Daily Beast said Deutsche Bank officers who were experts in lending procedures and actually made lending decisions as well as employees at the insurance brokerage Aon were grilled by prosecutors and made be summoned again even before Trump is legally compelled to leave the White House.