Trump says people are so angry about investigations into him they are 'fleeing' New York
'All part of the Witch Hunt Hoax,' president tweets after state launches hotel probe
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Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump has claimed without providing evidence that people are leaving New York “in record numbers” because they are upset at the state’s investigations into his family business.
“New York State and its Governor, Andrew Cuomo, are now proud members of the group of PRESIDENTIAL HARASSERS,” Mr Trump tweeted on Tuesday evening. “No wonder people are fleeing the State in record numbers. The Witch Hunt continues!”
The president’s criticism of Mr Cuomo came in an apparent response to a New York Times report that New York attorney general Letitia James’ decision to issue subpoenas to two banks for documents related to a number of Trump hotel projects.
The request to Deutsche Bank and Investors Bank was prompted by congressional testimony last month of Mr Trump’s former personal lawyer Michael Cohen, who told lawmakers his ex-client fraudulently inflated his assets in financial statements.
The civil probe adds to the growing number of legal dangers for the president, who is also under investigation for alleged campaign finance violations and possible links to Russia.
Mr Trump later shared a tweet from the Republican National Committee, which claimed Ms James was “proven to have a vendetta” against the billionaire after she described him last year as an “illegitimate president”.
“All part of the Witch Hunt Hoax. Started by little Eric Schneiderman & Cuomo. So many leaving New York!” Mr Trump added. Mr Schneiderman is the former New York attorney general.
Although New York has seen small population decreases annually since 2016, according to the US Census Bureau, there is no evidence the fall is due to the state’s investigations into the president.
The decrease is likely a result of a slower than average recovery from the 2008 financial crisis, which has seen private sector jobs grow at just one third the national rate, according to conservative think tank the Empire Center for Public Policy.
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