NEW YORK (AP) – Court of Appeals has abolished penalties for massive civil fraud President Donald Trumpaccused him of exaggerating his wealth Thursday in a New York state lawsuit.
The decision comes seven months after Republicans returned to the White House. A panel of five judges from New York’s mid-level appeals division said Trump would cost more than $515 million and shake up his real estate empire was “excessive.”
Judge Arthur Engoron after realising that Trump had done to lenders and insurance companies had engaged in fraud by padding financial statements I ordered it from him Last year, paying a penalty of $355 million. If I was interested, this amounted to over $515 million.
The total, combined with penalties imposed on other Trump organizational executives, including Trump’s son Eric and Donald Jr., now exceeds $527 million.
“While the injunctive relief ordered by the court is well made to curb the defendant’s business culture, the defendant directs that paying nearly $500 million to New York is an excessive fine that violates the eighth amendment of the US Constitution, court Dianne Dianne T.
Engoron also imposed other punishments, including banning Trump and his two eldest sons. From serving corporate leadership Several years. These regulations It’s paused During Trump’s appeal, he was able to hold back money collection Post $175 million bonds.
The court was split into merits of cases and discovering fraud in lower courts, but dismissed the penalty imposed by Engoron, while also leaving a route for further appeal to the Court of Appeal, the state’s Supreme Court.
The appeals court, the state court’s appeals unit, spent an unusually long time weighing Trump’s appeals nearly 11 months after oral debate last fall. Appeals are usually determined in weeks or months.
New York Attorney General Leticia James, who filed a lawsuit on behalf of the state, said the businessman-turned-politician was engaged in “lies, misconduct and incredible fraud.” Her office did not immediately comment after the decision Thursday.
Trump and his co-defendants denied any misconduct. in A type of total of 6 minutes After months of trial, Trump declared in January 2024 that he was a “innocent man,” and the case was “a fraud against me.” He repeatedly argues that the case and verdict are political moves by both Democrats James and Ngoron.
Trump’s Department of Justice has Summoned James for the record Among other documents, it is linked to the lawsuit as part of an investigation into whether she violated the president’s civil rights. James’ personal attorney, Abbe D. Lowell, said the investigation into the fraud case was “the most blatant and desperate example of this administration running a presidential political retaliation campaign.”
Trump and his lawyers said his financial statements were not deceptive as they noted that the disclaimer was not audited. The defense also noted that bankers and insurance companies independently assessed the numbers and the loan was repaid.
Despite inconsistencies such as tripling the size of his Trump Tower Penthouse, he said the financial statements were estimates of a low ball of his property.
Between Court of Appeals In September, Trump’s lawyers allegedly failed before trial, claiming that many of the lawsuit allegedly were too old. The defense also alleges that James exploits consumer protection laws to sue Trump and inappropriately cracks down on private business transactions that are satisfying for those involved.
State lawyers said the law in question applies to fraudulent or illegal business behavior, whether it is a daily consumer or targeting large businesses. Trump claims no one has done any harm to his financial statements, but the state claims the numbers have led lenders to make loans that are more risky than they knew, and that honest borrowers lose when others play games on their Networth numbers.
The state argued that the verdict was based on sufficient evidence and that the size of the penalty would be in Trump’s interests.
The civil fraud case was just one of several legal obstacles for Trump as Trump campaigned, won and quarantined in his second term as president.
On January 10th, he was He was declared in his criminal tranquility lawsuit He left his conviction in the book for what is known as unconditional discharge, but saves him prison, probation, fines or other punishment. he I am pleading for confidence.
And in December, the federal court of appeals Supported the findings of ju-searched Trump sexually abused writer E. Jean Carroll in the mid-1990s, and later slandered her, confirming his $5 million judgment against him. Court of Appeal I declined in June to reconsiderHe can still try to hear his appeal to the Supreme Court.
He is also suing a subsequent verdict requiring Carroll to pay $83.3 million for additional delinquent claims.
___
Follow President Donald Trump’s Associated Press https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump.
