Bloomberg: “Two powerful New York prosecutors are now conducting a joint investigation into the possibility that the Trump Organization committed crimes – a development that heightens the legal stakes and possible consequences for a former president who still wields substantial influence over his splintered political party from a perch at his Florida golf resort. New York State Attorney General Letitia James, who had been conducting a civil probe of the Trump Organization, disclosed publicly late Tuesday evening to CNN that she had reshaped her investigation into a criminal prosecution. James’s office said it had already notified the company to that effect and said it had also joined forces with Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, whose office has its own longstanding criminal investigation of the Trump Organization under way.”

“Unlike civil cases, which can generally result in fines and other similar penalties, criminal cases carry the threat of a prison sentence if a defendant is found guilty. For that reason, a successful criminal prosecution has to demonstrate a defendant’s ‘intent’ to commit a crime – proof of acting with the knowledge that he or she broke the law. It’s a higher legal threshold for prosecutors to overcome, because the penalty imposed is more serious. All of which suggests that James wouldn’t have converted her case into a criminal prosecution unless she believes she has convincing evidence demonstrating intent. It’s also unusual for prosecutors from different offices to pair up in an investigation. They are normally fiercely protective of their cases, independence and prerogatives. That suggests that James and Vance each believes the other brings unique and added value to their investigations.”