The Daily Fuckup

On April 8, 2022, New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a motion to compel Cushman & Wakefield to comply with subpoenas in the civil investigation into Donald Trump and the Trump Organization. The attorney general’s office said the firm had refused to respond fully to subpoenas tied to appraisal work and other records connected to Trump properties. ([ag.ny.gov](https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2022/attorney-general-james-takes-action-force-cushman-wakefield-comply-investigation))

The filing said Cushman & Wakefield provided appraisal and brokerage services for Trump Organization properties for years. The office said it was seeking additional information about appraisals for 40 Wall Street, Seven Springs Estate and Trump National Golf Club in Los Angeles, along with records about Cushman’s broader business relationship with the Trump Organization. ([ag.ny.gov](https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2022/attorney-general-james-takes-action-force-cushman-wakefield-comply-investigation))

James’s office also said Cushman refused to comply with subpoenas issued in September 2021 and February 2022. The motion asked a New York County state judge to order production of the documents, but it did not resolve the dispute on April 8 and did not amount to a ruling on the merits of the investigation. ([ag.ny.gov](https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2022/attorney-general-james-takes-action-force-cushman-wakefield-comply-investigation))

The court papers said the subpoena requests were relevant to the attorney general’s broader review of the Trump Organization’s financial dealings and appraisal practices. They also said the office was looking at whether valuations prepared by Cushman were fraudulent or misleading and whether Cushman itself engaged in misleading practices, though those allegations were still part of an ongoing investigation rather than a final finding. ([ag.ny.gov](https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2022/attorney-general-james-takes-action-force-cushman-wakefield-comply-investigation))

The practical point is simple: James was not asking for a fresh inquiry from scratch. She was asking the court to force compliance with subpoenas already on the books. ([ag.ny.gov](https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2022/attorney-general-james-takes-action-force-cushman-wakefield-comply-investigation))