Judge wants sworn statements on Trump’s use of Submit-it notes

Judge Arthur Engoron said he needed sworn statements describing the Trump Organization's document retention and destruction coverage, in addition to a assessment of 5 packing containers tied to Trump that had been situated in an off-site storage facility. The conditions have to be met by May 20, otherwise the choose mentioned he would restore the contempt discovering and apply it retroactively.

Engoron agreed to permit Trump to position the money in an escrow account till the former President's attraction of the contempt ruling is completed.

The decide stopped the clock on the nice as of final Friday when Trump's attorneys submitted extra sworn statements, including one from Trump, about his effort to comply with the subpoena from the New York legal professional general's office for data.

New York Attorney Basic Letitia James stated in a statement that Wednesday's contempt resolution sends a clear message to Trump and his group, which she said has tried to "thwart" the investigation for years, that "no one can evade accountability."

"We will continue to implement the legislation and search answers as a part of this investigation," James mentioned.

The New York legal professional normal's workplace moved to carry Trump in contempt after he didn't comply with a subpoena for documents issued in December 2021. The legal professional normal's workplace is investigating the accuracy of monetary statements the Trump Organization offered to lenders, insurers and for tax advantages.

At a hearing Wednesday, Andrew Amer, an legal professional for the state, homed in on the issue of the Submit-it notes, which Trump was recognized to make use of to communicate along with his employees, and whether or not they had been turned over.

"To our knowledge, we haven't seen any paperwork which have Put up-its on them. And that's one of the odd things in regards to the production thus far given the statements that was a method for Mr. Trump to communicate," Ames stated. He argued the handling of Publish-it notes should be included in the doc retention and destruction policy.

Alina Habba, an attorney for Trump, stated she was advised by the Trump Organization's normal counsel that all Post-it notes had been already produced to the attorney general's office.

"It's just a little comical," she informed the decide, while holding up a stack of Put up-its. "I haven't got a formal observe on Post-its, do you?"

The decide said they may begin a new apply in the law: the Submit-it affidavit.

The judge said he also needed Trump's lawyers to handle any efforts to reach former government assistants to Trump and whether they could possibly be situated.

This story has been up to date with additional developments and background info.

CNN's Shawna Mizelle contributed to this report.