Defendants Request Delay in Enforcement of Penalties in Trump’s Civil Fraud Case as NY Attorney General Pushes Back
Former President Donald Trump’s civil fraud case has taken another twist, as the defendants have requested a delay in the enforcement of penalties. This includes Trump’s hefty $354 million fine and a temporary ban on running a business in New York. However, the New York attorney general is firmly pushing back against this request.
The defendants’ lawyer asked Judge Arthur Engoron for a 30-day delay in enforcing the penalties, citing the need for an “orderly post-judgment process.” But state attorney Andrew Amer wasted no time in opposing the request. In a letter to Engoron, Amer argued that Friday’s ruling had left “no room for further debate” about the judgment.
The dispute centers around the judgment order, which is a court document that initiates the countdown for penalties in a case. Once Judge Engoron signs the judgment order, Trump has 30 days to either pay the judgment or post a bond, which would allow him to appeal the case. On Tuesday, lawyers for New York Attorney General Letitia James submitted a draft judgment, which drew criticism from Trump’s defense lawyer Clifford Robert.
Robert wrote a letter to the court, expressing his concern over depriving the defendants of the opportunity to submit a counter-judgment. He argued that this would violate fundamental fairness and due process. Engoron then requested Robert to provide a written response explaining how the defense’s judgment would differ from the proposed order. Robert submitted his response, asserting that the attorney general’s judgment deviated from standard practice and contained at least two errors.
Former President Donald Trump attends the third day of his civil fraud trial in New York in an October 4, 2023, file photo. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images, FILE)
Robert claimed that the attorney general had not filed any motion on notice or attempted to settle the proposed judgment. He described her rush to memorialize a ‘judgment’ as a violation of accepted practice in New York state court. Highlighting the magnitude of the penalties in the case, Robert requested a stay of penalties for 30 days if Engoron decides to sign the attorney general’s proposed judgment. He argued that given the court-appointed monitor is still in place, there would be no prejudice to the attorney general in temporarily pausing enforcement to allow for an orderly post-judgment process.
In response, Amer penned a letter on Thursday, asserting that Robert had failed to provide a valid reason for an additional 30-day delay. Amer also objected to Robert’s proposal to change the business address of six of Trump’s entities from New York to Florida. He argued that the record clearly showed that these entities were located in Trump Tower at 725 5th Avenue in New York, where the executives carrying out the business activities worked.
Last week, Engoron fined Trump $354.8 million, plus approximately $100 million in pre-judgment interest, after determining that he had inflated his net worth to secure more favorable loan terms. Despite the ruling, Trump vehemently denies any wrongdoing and has vowed to appeal.
The case continues to captivate public attention as it unfolds, with both sides locked in a battle over the enforcement of penalties. The defendants argue for more time, citing fairness and due process, while the attorney general stands firm, insisting that there is no basis for further delay. As the legal proceedings progress, all eyes will be on Judge Engoron as he weighs the arguments and makes his decision on whether to grant the defendants’ request or proceed with enforcing the penalties.
