Exclusive: Lawyers for President-elect Donald Trump are asking New York Attorney General Letitia James to dismiss a civil fraud lawsuit against him, his family and his companies “in the greater good of the nation.” Found out on Fox News Digital.
“In order to proceed with discussions with your office, we completely dismiss the above-mentioned lawsuit against President Donald J. Trump, his family, and his businesses, vacate the judgment, and dismiss all claims with prejudice. I am writing to request that you do so,” Trump attorney D. John Sauer wrote in a letter obtained exclusively by Fox News Digital.
New York Court of Appeals likely to set aside or reduce Trump's $454 million civil fraud judgment
Trump was ordered to pay a $454 million civil fraud judgment in a lawsuit against James.
Mr. Trump has appealed the ruling, and the judges at the New York Court of Appeals appear open-minded and open to the possibility of overturning the ruling altogether.
But Sauer pointed to Trump's “historic election victory.”
President-elect Donald Trump speaks at the House Republican Conference at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill on November 13. (Alison Robert Poole/Getty Images)
“President Trump called for an end to our nation's partisan bickering and for opposing factions to come together for the greater good of our country,” Sauer wrote. “This call for unity extends to the legal onslaught against him and his family that permeated the recent election cycle.”
Sauer, who was nominated to be attorney general in the second Trump administration, said the lawsuit against Trump was a “flashpoint of partisan division in the country.”
“As President Trump's lawyer on this appellate court, and now as a candidate for attorney general of the United States, I have had the opportunity to personally experience this partisan divide, and it is necessary for the health of our country.” I strongly believe that the dispute and legal issues will end. ”
He added: “You now have a unique opportunity to heal this division.”
Sauer's letter comes after a series of legal victories for Trump and his legal team, coordinated by senior legal adviser Boris Epshteyn.
Sauer noted that Special Counsel Jack Smith's recent request against Trump related to the 2020 election was granted by federal judge Tanya Chutkan. Mr. Smith also dismissed his appeal in the confidential records case on Monday after a federal judge dismissed the charges outright in July and ruled that Mr. Smith was illegally appointed special prosecutor. ”
New York Attorney General Letitia James spoke about the implications of the 2024 presidential election during a press conference with Governor Kathy Hochul. (Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)
In New York v. Trump, Judge Juan Marchan granted Trump's request to file a motion to dismiss charges stemming from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's case and removed the president-elect's sentencing date from the calendar.
“This case requires similar treatment,” Sauer wrote.
Sauer reminded that in James' case, “the statute of limitations bars claims and liability.”
More than half of Trump's $454 million judgment bond thrown out by appeals court ruling
Sauer also reminded that her case had “no victims, no complaints, no false statements, no causation, no injuries, no losses.”
“Instead, President Trump provided a clear and unambiguous disclaimer to sophisticated commercial parties who made decisions based on their own due diligence,” Sauer wrote. “All loan and insurance payments were made in full on time or early.”
Sauer said President Trump's business partners were “pleased with these transactions” and “received significant benefits, netting them more than $100 million in profits.”
Sauer said the evidence “shows that the defendants' counterparties were not defrauded, that they conducted their own due diligence and diligently sought and accepted profitable transactions, and that the objections were not subject to the terms of any transaction. This proves conclusively that it had no effect.” . ”
“As stated above, it was fully repaid on time or early,” he said.
“The chilling effect of this case has been devastating to businesses across New York, and companies are encouraged to seek refuge in friendly states where such substandard enforcement and excessive penalties are not seen,” Sauer said. “We are being forced to do so,” he said.
“President Trump is one of the most successful developers in New York history,” Sauer said. “He rebuilt New York's skyline, created thousands of jobs, rescued and revitalized the historic Wollman Rink, and built a $3 billion West Side corridor from 59th Street to 72nd Street in Manhattan. “He developed the Railroad Yard and was deeply involved and had special responsibility for the development of the Jacob Javits Center, among other successes,” Sauer wrote. “This case against him is 'not justified by any public purpose.'”
Trump attorney D. John Sauer. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Mr. Sauer pointed to Mr. Trump's landslide victory and his pending appointment as the 47th president.
Sauer also pointed to statements made by past presidents, particularly those made by President Abraham Lincoln on October 3, 1863, during “the most divisive time in our nation” when he issued the Thanksgiving Proclamation.
Sauer said, “President Lincoln brought bitter divisions to bear on the American people so that the blessings of liberty would be “solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged by all the people of the United States with one heart and one voice.'' asked to be set aside,” Sauer wrote. “He appealed to all Americans to seek the intervention of the Almighty to heal our nation's wounds and restore our nation as soon as possible in accordance with God's purpose so that it may enjoy the fullest amount of peace, harmony, and tranquility. “And join.''
Sauer added: “We ask that you summon the same spirit of solidarity and stipulate that the judgment be vacated and this case dismissed with prejudice.”
President Trump vows to fight New York lawsuit 'all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court' as $454 million deadline approaches
Sauer's letter comes after New York Judge Arthur Engoron ruled earlier this year that Trump and other defendants committed persistent and repeated fraud, falsifying business records, issuing false financial statements and falsifying financial statements. It was filed after he was found guilty of conspiracy, insurance fraud, and conspiracy to commit insurance fraud. .
In September 2023, before the non-jury trial began, Mr. Engoron accused Mr. Trump and the Trump Organization of overstating his assets and exaggerating his net worth in documents he used to create a real estate empire. The court ruled that he had committed fraud by deceiving banks and insurance companies. Securing deals and financing.
Trump was initially fined $355 million. This amount has grown rapidly with interest accruing approximately $112,000 per day until paid in full and is now approximately $470 million.
Trump's lawyers said the initial bond requested was “unprecedented for a private company” and that it would be “practically impossible” to count toward the full amount of the judgment.
An appeals court reduced Trump's bail in March, with the former president paying $175 million.
President-elect Trump arrives to speak at an election night event at the Palm Beach Convention Center on November 6 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
President Trump has vowed to fight the case “all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary.”
Trump and his family have denied any wrongdoing, and the former president said his assets were undervalued. Mr. Trump's lawyers argued that his financial statements contained a disclaimer and made it clear that banks should conduct their own evaluations.
Throughout the trial, Mr. Trump's lawyers called witnesses, including former Deutsche Bank executives, who testified that the banks viewed Mr. Trump as a “customer whale” and sought additional business from him.
Trump's defense also brought in expert witnesses, including New York University accounting professor Eli Bartov, who reviewed Trump's financial statements at issue in the case and found no evidence of accounting fraud. said.
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Bartov testified last month that Trump's financial statements did not violate accounting principles, and that everything at issue, including the estimated value of his Trump Tower penthouse, which increased significantly from year to year, were simply errors. suggested.
“My main finding is that there is no evidence of any accounting fraud,” Bartov testified. He said there were “no material misstatements” in President Trump's financial statements.
