Finance
Trump lashes out at financial monitor in business fraud case after she reports errors
Donald Trump at the courthouse in Lower Manhattan, New York on October 17, 2023.
John Taggart | The Washington Post | Getty Images
Donald Trump on Monday lashed out at the financial monitor overseeing the Trump Organization and urged a judge to fire her days after she reported a range of issues — and flagged a questionable $48 million loan — in the former president’s New York civil business fraud case.
The independent monitor, Barbara Jones, “desperately seeks to justify the continued receipt of millions of dollars in fees going forward,” an attorney for Trump wrote in a letter to Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron.
The attorney, Clifford Robert, said Jones has collected over $2.6 million in 14 months on the job. New York Attorney General Letitia James has asked Engoron to order that Jones continue to monitor the Trump Organization for at least five years as part of his judgment in the case.
But Robert wrote that Jones’ findings “simply do not support or provide any evidentiary basis for continued oversight.”
Robert made that argument three days after Jones submitted a report to Engoron accusing the Trump Organization of providing incomplete, inconsistent or incorrect information about its financial disclosures.
In a footnote in that report, Jones said that she identified a loan between Trump himself and an entity related to Trump Chicago Tower that later turned out not to exist.
She was told that the loan was believed to total $48 million, but that there are no agreements memorializing it.
“However, in recent discussions with the Trump Organization, it indicated that it has determined that this loan never existed” and that it would be removed from subsequent forms, Jones wrote.
Robert called that “a demonstrable falsehood” in his letter Monday.
“The Trump entities of course never said the loan did not exist,” he wrote. “Rather, they provided a copy of an internal memorandum reflecting simply that ‘no liabilities or obligations are outstanding’ under the loan at that time.”
“The Monitor’s deliberate mischaracterization casts further doubt on her competency and veracity” and “simply fails to support continued oversight,” he added.
Jones did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment on Robert’s letter.
Jones’ report came days before Engoron was expected to deliver a verdict in James’ case accusing Trump, his two adult sons, his company and its top executives of fraudulently inflating Trump’s asset values to boost his net worth and obtain financial perks.
James seeks to ban Trump for life from participating in New York’s real estate industry or serving as an officer or director of a business in the state. She also seeks five-year bans with the same conditions for Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, who took over the Trump Organization after their father became president in 2017. The attorney general also seeks more than $370 million in penalties.
The public entrance to Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue in New York.
Robert Alexander | Archive Photos | Getty Images
Jones, a retired federal judge who has been involved in multiple Trump-related legal proceedings, was selected in November 2022 by both Trump and James as their top pick to serve as the independent monitor in the civil fraud case.
But Robert lashed out at Jones in Monday’s letter, accusing her of issuing her latest report to ensure she continues to “receive exorbitant fees,” paid for by Trump and his co-defendants.
Robert also accused the monitor’s report of containing errors that cast doubt on her competency, and of being “misleading and disingenuous.”
Jones’ “bad faith” effort “rehashes long-resolved issues,” Robert wrote, accusing the monitor of being “unabashedly self-serving” in reporting that the Trump Organization could continue to make errors that result in sending inaccurate financial information to third parties.
“Further oversight is unwarranted and will only unjustly enrich the Monitor as she engages in some ‘Javert’ like quest against the Defendants,” Robert wrote, referring to the misguided legal enforcer from the musical “Les Miserables.”
Trump’s attorney Christopher Kise in a statement called Jones’ report “truly a joke.” He characterized her overall findings as merely a handful of unimportant clerical errors and inconsistencies.
“Indeed, it is shocking that President Trump has been forced to pay millions for a Monitor to prove what he has said from the outset, namely, there is no financial reporting misconduct, no fraud and simply no basis for this abusive process to continue,” Kise wrote.
A spokeswoman for James called that statement “patently false,” referring to the issues Jones found, including $40 million in cash transfers that were previously undisclosed to her, as is required.
Engoron has said he will try to deliver a decision in the case by Wednesday, while noting that there is no guarantee on when he will issue a verdict.
The judge had ruled before the two-month trial even began that Trump and his co-defendants were liable for fraudulently misstating the values of various assets on key financial forms. The trial was conducted to determine damages and resolve other claims of wrongdoing in James’ lawsuit.
Finance
Open Lending Secures Major Auto Finance Partnership, Expands Lenders Protection™ Program
Open Lending (LPRO) has secured its third partnership with an automotive captive finance company, marking a significant expansion of its Lenders Protection™ program. The agreement will enable the unnamed OEM partner to extend lending services to near- and non-prime consumers through automated decisioning and default insurance coverage.
The implementation is scheduled for early 2025, with testing nearly complete. The partnership aims to help the captive finance company expand its business by responsibly lending to consumers with lower credit scores than their traditional borrowers. Open Lending’s solution will integrate into the lender’s processes, from initial application scoring to loan structuring and servicing, using alternative data to price loans based on applicants’ financial profiles and vehicle valuations.
Open Lending (LPRO) ha consolidato la sua terza partnership con un’azienda finanziaria automobilistica, segnando un’espansione significativa del suo programma Lenders Protection™. L’accordo permetterà al partner OEM non ancora nominato di estendere i servizi di prestito a consumatori near- e non prime attraverso decisioni automatizzate e copertura assicurativa contro i default.
L’implementazione è prevista per inizio 2025, con i test quasi completati. La partnership mira ad aiutare l’azienda finanziaria a espandere la propria attività prestando responsabilmente a consumatori con punteggi di credito inferiori rispetto ai tradizionali prestatari. La soluzione di Open Lending si integrerà nei processi del prestatore, dalla valutazione iniziale della domanda alla strutturazione e gestione dei prestiti, utilizzando dati alternativi per valutare i prestiti in base ai profili finanziari dei richiedenti e alle valutazioni dei veicoli.
Open Lending (LPRO) ha asegurado su tercera asociación con una empresa de financiación cautiva automotriz, marcando una expansión significativa de su programa Lenders Protection™. El acuerdo permitirá al socio OEM no nombrado extender los servicios de préstamo a consumidores near- y non-prime a través de decisiones automatizadas y cobertura de seguro contra impagos.
La implementación está programada para principios de 2025, con las pruebas casi completas. La asociación tiene como objetivo ayudar a la empresa de financiación cautiva a expandir su negocio prestando responsablemente a consumidores con puntuaciones de crédito más bajas que sus prestatarios tradicionales. La solución de Open Lending se integrará en los procesos del prestamista, desde la evaluación inicial de la solicitud hasta la estructuración y el servicio del préstamo, utilizando datos alternativos para fijar tasas basadas en los perfiles financieros de los solicitantes y las valoraciones de los vehículos.
Open Lending (LPRO)는 Automotive captive finance 회사와 세 번째 파트너십을 체결하여 Lenders Protection™ 프로그램을 크게 확장했습니다. 이번 계약을 통해 이름이 밝혀지지 않은 OEM 파트너는 자동화된 의사 결정과 디폴트 보험 보장을 통해 네어 프라임 및 비프라임 소비자에게 대출 서비스를 제공할 수 있게 됩니다.
구현은 2025년 초로 예정되어 있으며, 테스트는 거의 완료되었습니다. 이번 파트너십은 금융 회사가 전통적인 차주보다 낮은 신용 점수를 가진 소비자에게 책임감 있게 대출을 확대하는 데 도움을 주기 위한 것입니다. Open Lending의 솔루션은 초기 신청 평가부터 대출 구조화 및 서비스에 이르기까지 대출자의 프로세스에 통합되어 신청자의 재무 프로필 및 차량 평가를 기반으로 대출 가격을 설정하기 위해 대체 데이터를 사용할 것입니다.
Open Lending (LPRO) a sécurisé son troisième partenariat avec une entreprise de financement captive automobile, marquant une expansion significative de son programme Lenders Protection™. Cet accord permettra au partenaire OEM non nommé d’étendre les services de prêt aux consommateurs near- et non-prime grâce à une décision automatisée et une couverture d’assurance contre les défauts de paiement.
L’implémentation est prévue pour début 2025, les tests étant presque terminés. Ce partenariat vise à aider l’entreprise de financement captive à développer son activité en prêtant de manière responsable à des consommateurs avec des scores de crédit inférieurs à ceux de ses emprunteurs traditionnels. La solution d’Open Lending sera intégrée dans les processus du prêteur, depuis l’évaluation initiale des demandes jusqu’à la structuration et le service des prêts, en utilisant des données alternatives pour fixer les taux des prêts en fonction des profils financiers des demandeurs et des évaluations des véhicules.
Open Lending (LPRO) hat seine dritte Partnerschaft mit einem Automobilfinanzierungsunternehmen gesichert, was eine bedeutende Erweiterung seines Lenders Protection™ Programms darstellt. Die Vereinbarung ermöglicht es dem nicht genannten OEM-Partner, Kreditdienstleistungen an Near- und Non-Prime-Verbraucher durch automatisierte Entscheidungsfindung und Ausfallversicherungsdeckung anzubieten.
Die Implementierung ist für Anfang 2025 geplant, die Tests sind nahezu abgeschlossen. Die Partnerschaft zielt darauf ab, dem Finanzierungsunternehmen zu helfen, sein Geschäft zu erweitern, indem es verantwortungsbewusst an Verbraucher mit niedrigeren Kreditwerten als seine traditionellen Kreditnehmer vergibt. Die Lösung von Open Lending wird in die Prozesse des Kreditgebers integriert, von der initialen Antragsbewertung bis hin zur Strukturierung und Verwaltung von Krediten, wobei alternative Daten verwendet werden, um Kredite basierend auf den finanziellen Profilen der Antragsteller und den Fahrzeugbewertungen zu berechnen.
Positive
- Secured third OEM captive finance company partnership, expanding market presence
- Partnership implementation set for early 2025, indicating near-term revenue potential
- Demonstrates growing acceptance of Lenders Protection™ program in automotive lending
Insights
The partnership with a third OEM captive finance company marks a significant strategic expansion for Open Lending. This deal opens up access to a broader customer base in the near- and non-prime auto lending market, potentially driving substantial revenue growth. The timing of the rollout in early 2025 suggests a meaningful impact on future earnings.
The agreement demonstrates Open Lending’s growing market penetration in the automotive financing sector, particularly with captive finance companies. Their Lenders Protection™ program’s ability to facilitate lending to lower credit spectrum consumers while managing risk through default insurance coverage presents a compelling value proposition. This could translate into increased loan origination volumes and recurring revenue streams.
The auto financing market is experiencing a strategic shift as OEM captive finance companies seek to expand their lending portfolios to near- and non-prime consumers. Open Lending’s third major captive partnership validates their technology-driven approach and positions them favorably in this growing market segment. The integration of alternative data for loan structuring and risk assessment represents a competitive advantage in reaching underserved borrowers.
This expansion aligns with industry trends showing increased focus on financial inclusion while maintaining prudent risk management. The partnership could strengthen Open Lending’s market position and create barriers to entry for competitors.
Agreement demonstrates continued importance of near- and non-prime consumers to captive lenders and Company’s industry leadership
AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Open Lending Corporation (Nasdaq: LPRO) (the “Company” or “Open Lending”), an industry trailblazer in lending enablement and risk analytics solutions for financial institutions, today announced that it entered into an agreement with the captive finance company of a premier automaker to begin utilizing Open Lending’s flagship Lenders Protection™ program. This is the Company’s third such partnership with an automotive captive finance company. This agreement will enable the Company’s newest OEM partner to access more near- and non-prime consumers with the unique benefits of Open Lending’s automated decisioning and default insurance coverage.
“We couldn’t be more excited about the addition of a third OEM captive finance company to our customer base,“ said Chuck Jehl, CEO of Open Lending. “This company desired to expand its business by responsibly lending to consumers who are deeper in the credit spectrum than most of their borrowers have historically been. As with so many of Open Lending’s customers, our Lenders Protection solution is the perfect fit. This new relationship further validates Open Lending’s value proposition to auto lenders generally. Full testing and implementation is near completion with a targeted rollout scheduled to begin in early 2025.”
“Signing our third captive finance company is an important milestone for Open Lending,” Mr. Jehl added. “I’d like to thank our co-founder and enterprise account consultant, Ross Jessup, for all his efforts in making today’s announcement a reality.”
“Our expertise in near- and non-prime lending was a significant factor in this captive finance company’s decision to partner with Open Lending,” said Mr. Jessup. “This partnership helps lenders grow safely, strengthens dealer relationships, and ensures OEMs retain their customers within the brand.”
Open Lending’s approach to integration will assist with efficiencies within the captive finance company’s process, from initial scoring of an application, to loan structuring and pricing, and all the way through servicing. Using alternative data, Lenders Protection prices and structures automotive loans according to each applicant’s unique financial profile and vehicle valuation, enabling financial institutions to securely offer loan opportunities to near- and non-prime borrowers.
Learn more at openlending.com.
About Open Lending
Open Lending (NASDAQ: LPRO) provides loan analytics, risk-based pricing, risk modeling, and default insurance to auto lenders throughout the United States. For over 20 years, we have been empowering financial institutions to create profitable auto loan portfolios with less risk and more reward. For more information, please visit www.openlending.com.
Contact
Open Lending Media Inquiries
press@openlending.com
Open Lending Investor Relations Inquiries
InvestorRelations@openlending.com
FAQ
When will Open Lending (LPRO) launch its partnership with the new OEM captive finance company?
Open Lending plans to begin the rollout of its partnership with the new OEM captive finance company in early 2025.
How many OEM captive finance company partnerships does Open Lending (LPRO) now have?
With this new agreement, Open Lending now has partnerships with three OEM captive finance companies.
What services will Open Lending (LPRO) provide to the new OEM partner?
Open Lending will provide its Lenders Protection™ program, offering automated decisioning and default insurance coverage for near- and non-prime consumer loans.
How does Open Lending’s (LPRO) Lenders Protection program evaluate loan applications?
The program uses alternative data to price and structure automotive loans based on each applicant’s unique financial profile and vehicle valuation.
Finance
Canada government adrift after finance minister resigns, Trump tariffs loom
By David Ljunggren
OTTAWA (Reuters) – The abrupt resignation of Canada’s finance minister leaves the government adrift less a month before the inauguration of a new U.S. administration that could impose crippling sanctions on Canadian exports.
Chrystia Freeland quit on Monday after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered her a lesser position. She said his wish to increase spending could endanger Canada’s ability to withstand the damage done by the tariffs that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is threatening to impose.
Freeland had headed a special cabinet committee on Canada-U.S. relations and was working closely with the 10 provinces to ensure a united response.
“As a country we have to project strength and unity, and it’s chaos right now up in Ottawa,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford said after a scheduled online conference call of provincial premiers on Monday to discuss the U.S. threat.
An unimpressed Alberta premier, Danielle Smith, one of Trudeau’s biggest domestic critics, said the provincial leaders had only learned halfway through their call that the point person on Canada-U.S. relations had quit.
“It’s chaos. I’d be looking at this wondering who the next leader is … are they going to be able to bring forward a coherent plan? Is there going to be a team that is able to do a Team Canada approach?” she said.
“It’s not the greatest time to have a vacuum,” she added, calling for a national election to help restore stability.
Unhappy legislators from the ruling Liberal Party, some of whom have been calling on Trudeau to quit for months, met on Monday in Ottawa to vent their frustration.
The Liberals are trailing badly in the polls ahead of an election that must be held by late October 2025. Trudeau has until now ruled out the idea of resigning but if pressure on him mounts significantly, the results could be unpredictable.
“Trump will be inaugurated in 34 days. Canada must have a stable government,” former Trudeau foreign policy advisor Roland Paris said in a post on X.
When Trump came to power in 2017 he vowed to tear up the trilateral free trade treaty with Canada and Mexico. Freeland, who was then foreign minister, played a large role in helping renegotiate the pact and saving Canada’s economy, which is heavily reliant on the United States.
Vincent Rigby, a former national security and intelligence adviser to Trudeau, said Freeland’s departure meant the Canadian stance with Trump was up in the air.
“This is going to be quite problematic for the prime minister from a political perspective, but it’s now also going to be problematic in terms of how the Canadian government deals with an incoming Trump presidency,” he said on the sidelines of an event in Washington.
Finance
By denying Adams funds, the undemocratic Campaign Finance Board is election-meddling
The unelected city Campaign Finance Board just denied Mayor Adams access to more than $4 million in matching funds for his reelection fight — showing yet again the profoundly undemocratic nature of New York’s public-campaign-finance system.
The board declared Adams ineligible to receive public monies on the strength of alleged crimes and corruption, yet his trial on federal charges — and thus any factual finding of guilt — won’t even start until April.
And those charges themselves sure look like they’re motivated by politics (i.e. payback to Adams for challenging President Biden on the border crisis).
Yes, when it comes to the public fisc, even the appearance of impropriety is supposed to be a big no-no.
And Adams can appeal the decision; he still has millions in his war chest; etc. etc.
But this is at least a serious wound to his candidacy.
Again, at the hands of the CFB, which is neither directly elected nor remotely answerable to the voters of New York, nor really to anyone.
Yet it behaves as though it has the public mandate to shape and even decide election outcomes.
Consider the 2013 mayoral race: The CFB suddenly denied matching funds to then-Comptroller John Liu over alleged corruption, too — and so cleared the left lane of the Democratic primary (and near-certain victory in the general election) for a lumbering, communist-loving dimwit from Cambridge, Bill de Blasio.
That proved to be deeply consequential for all New Yorkers, eventually ushering in an era of high crime, failing schools, COVID insanity and general civic decay.
(The CFB also impacted the mayoral race in 2000, by the way, making up rules on the fly about what funds could go out the door for what after the 9/11 attacks forced a postponement of the primaries.)
Now all the leftists taking aim at Adams are jumping with joy over this decision.
The matching-funds rules themselves increase the field of candidates who’ve learned how to work the public-finance system, paying out an unthinkably lavish $8 for each (apparently) qualifying $1 in donations.
All on the taxpayers’ dime.
New York City progressives love to scream and shout that democracy is under threat.
Whatever happens in Adams’ case, the latest CFB intervention is a reminder the progressive idea of democracy often isn’t very democratic at all.
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