Trump Organization’s insurance records subpoenaed by NY financial regulator as investigations widen – USA TODAY
President Donald Trump Tuesday denounced a Democratic sweeping new probe of his presidency as “the witch hunt continues.” (March 5)
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NEW YORK – A state regulator has subpoenaed an insurance provider for The Trump Organization, opening a new front in the widening investigations focused on President Donald Trump, his business, family, and White House administration.
Aon, a London-headquartered financial services company that is one of the world’s largest insurance brokerages, said it was served a subpoena on Monday by the New York Department of Financial Services.
Donna Mirandola, Aon’s vice president of global content marketing, confirmed the subpoena. The insurance brokerage intends to cooperate with the request but would not “comment on specific client matters,” she said in an email response.
Another person with knowledge of the subpoena confirmed that the request sought records of communications involving Aon, Trump and his company, as well as internal documents for related insurance coverage. The person declined to be named because the subpoena had not been disclosed publicly.
A spokeswoman for The Trump Organization did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
The New York action, combined with moves by the Democratically controlled House, represents the latest in a series of new investigations that could target Trump through the second half of his White House term.
News about the subpoena, first reported by The New York Times, comes less than a week after former Trump personal attorney Michael Cohen testified at a congressional hearing that his ex-boss inflated the value of his financial assets to obtain more favorable insurance rates and loans from banks.
Separately, the House Judiciary Committee on Monday requested records from 81 “agencies, entities and individuals” linked to the Republican presidential administration along with Trump’s family members, present and former associates and his private businesses.
Additionally, the House Intelligence Committee on Tuesday announced new hires, including a former federal prosecutor with expertise in battling Russian organized crime. Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., who chairs the panel, has signaled plans to continue an investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
Criticizing the new investigations, Trump tweeted on Tuesday that Democratic House committee chairs “have gone stone cold CRAZY” and “won’t get ANYTHING done for our Country!”
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Special Counsel Robert Mueller also is focused on Russian interference with the presidential election; his report could be imminent. Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York have investigated Cohen, hush money payments to women who said they had sexual affairs with Trump, and other matters.
The New York regulator is part of the administration of Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a frequent Trump critic. The Department of Financial Services oversees all insurance companies that do business in New York, as well as many banks, credit unions and consumer credit reporting agencies.
The regulator does not have review authority over Trump or his business, nor does it have prosecutorial power. However, the regulator can refer findings to law enforcement authorities.
Follow USA TODAY reporter Kevin McCoy on Twitter: @kmccoynyc