NEW YORK — Donald Trump has appealed his $454 million civil fraud judgment in New York, challenging a judge’s finding that he lied about his wealth as he grew the real estate empire that propelled him to fame and the presidency.
Lawyers for the former president filed appeal papers Monday asking the state’s mid-level appeals court to overturn Judge Arthur Engoron’s Feb. 16 verdict in the attorney general’s lawsuit Letitia James and cancel the staggering sanctions that threaten to wipe out Donald Trump’s cash reserves.
Mr. Trump’s lawyers wrote in court papers that they were asking the appeals court to decide whether Judge Engoron “made errors of law and/or fact” and whether he abused his power. discretionary or had acted beyond its competence.
Mr. Trump’s appeal will not automatically end enforcement of the judgment.
Whoever is on track to win the Republican nomination race has until March 25 to obtain what’s called a stay, a legal mechanism suspending collections while they appeal. Mr. Trump would receive an automatic stay if he posts money, assets or an appeal bond covering what he owes. The former president’s lawyers could also ask the appeals court to grant a stay without obtaining bail or with a lower amount of bail.
Donald Trump’s lawyers did not immediately respond Monday to a reporter’s questions about whether he had posted bail on appeal or was in the process of obtaining one.
In a statement released through a spokesperson, Donald Trump’s attorney Alina Habba addressed only the appeal itself, saying, “We are confident that the Appellate Division will overturn this enormous fine and will take the necessary steps to restore public confidence in New York’s legal system.”
Messages seeking comment were left with the New York attorney general’s office and a spokesperson for the state court system.
Consequences during election period
The appeal ensures that the legal fight over Mr. Trump’s business practices will persist into the heart of the presidential primary season, and likely beyond, as he attempts to clinch the Republican presidential nomination in his quest to retake the House -White.
If confirmed, Judge Engoron’s decision will force Mr. Trump to give up a significant portion of his fortune. Judge Engoron ordered Donald Trump to pay US$355 million in penalties, but with interest, the total rose to nearly US$454 million. That total will increase by nearly $112,000 every day until he pays.
Mr Trump insists he is worth several billion dollars and said last year he had about US$400 million in cash, plus properties and other investments. Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, told ABC News that if Mr. Trump was unable to pay, she would seek to seize some of his assets.
Donald Trump’s call was expected. Mr. Trump had vowed to appeal, and his lawyers had been laying the groundwork for months by frequently objecting to Judge Engoron’s handling of the trial.
Donald Trump said Judge Engoron’s decision, the most costly consequence of his recent legal troubles, was “election interference” and “weaponization against a political opponent.” Mr. Trump complained that he was being punished for “building a perfect company, lots of money, great buildings.”
Mr. Trump’s lawyer, Christopher Kise, argued after the verdict that the former president was confident the appeals court would “ultimately correct the countless and catastrophic errors made by a trial court unrelated to the law nor with reality.
If the decision stands, Ms. Habba argued, “it will serve as a signal to all Americans that New York is no longer open for business.”
Donald Trump couldn’t appeal the decision immediately because the clerk’s office at Judge Engoron’s courthouse had to file paperwork to make it official. This was done on Friday, opening a 30-day window for Mr. Trump to pay or appeal and request a reprieve.
If Donald Trump were to pay the fine at this point instead of getting a stay, the money would be held in a court escrow account while the appeal plays out. If the court overturns the verdict, the money would be returned to Mr. Trump.
Other ongoing files
The appeal is one of several legal challenges to Donald Trump. He has been criminally charged four times in the past year. He is accused in Georgia and Washington, D.C., of plotting to overturn his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden. In Florida, he is accused of hoarding classified documents.
He is scheduled to go on trial March 25 in Manhattan on charges of falsifying business records related to hush money paid to pornographic actress Stormy Daniels on his behalf.
In January, a jury ordered Donald Trump to pay US$83.3 million to writer E. Jean Carroll for defaming her after she accused him in 2019 of sexually assaulting her in a major Manhattan store in the 1990s. This is in addition to the US$5 million awarded by the jury to Ms. Carroll in a related trial last year.
2024-02-26 19:10:59
#Donald #Trump #appeals #York #civil #fraud #judgment
