Several legal experts on Friday criticized the ruling that ordered former President Donald Trump to pay $354 million in a civil fraud case.
New York’s Democratic Attorney General James filed a lawsuit in September 2022, accusing President Trump of exaggerating the value of his real estate holdings in order to obtain loans. In addition to the fine, Judge Arthur Engoron’s ruling bars Trump from “serving as an officer or director of any New York corporation or other New York corporation for a period of three years.” (Related article: ‘The case is ruined’: Lawyer reveals why New York judge tried to silence Trump during testimony)
“This judgment is an injustice, plain and simple. It is the result of a years-long political campaign aimed at ‘defeating Donald Trump’ before Letitia James even set foot in the Attorney General’s office.” “This is the culmination of a motivated witch hunt,” said Trump lawyer Alina Haba. Posted “Countless hours of testimony proved there was no wrongdoing, no crime, and no victims.”
“Given the significant risks, we trust that the Appellate Division will reverse this terrible ruling and end this relentless persecution of my client,” Haba continued. “Let’s be clear: this is not just about Donald Trump. If this decision stands, it will send a signal to all Americans that New York is no longer open for business. It will be.”
On September 26, Engoron ruled that Trump was liable for fraud and ordered the revocation of several business licenses held by Trump. The Court of Appeal suspended the sentence on October 6th.
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“Even before the trial began, before any witnesses or other evidence was found, Engoron ruled that Trump (somehow) committed fraud,” said Article 3 Project founder Mike Davis. Posted. “After repaying the sophisticated Wall Street bank in full, on time and with interest as agreed. Then a partisan hacking judge handed down a business death sentence.”
“This is unprecedented,” said Pam Bondi, Florida’s former Republican attorney general. “And yet they go after Donald Trump at a time when crime in New York state is at an all-time high.” In “Kudrow”. “Letitia James should be fighting crime, but instead she went after Donald Trump and his family.”
George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley also criticized the ruling. (Related: ‘She wants a nuclear option’: Jonathan Turley responds to ‘breathtaking’ request from New York governor in Trump case)
“The court has done everything except order Trump thrown into a wood chipper,” Turley said on “The Story.” “He charges almost the maximum amount James asked for, forbids him from doing business in the city where he is an iconic businessman, and forbids him from taking loans. That last part is especially ironic. .
“Not only did the banks say they were not victims and did not complain about the alleged fraud, they also said they wanted to do more business with President Trump,” he continued. “They described him as a whale customer. So this is basically being done in the name of their victimhood, even though no one is losing money. .”
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“None of us have been able to find a case like this, and yet in the first case, you have this property that the court is asking you to turn over,” Turley said. “I think there’s a real problem here. I think this is going to have a similar impact on some appellate judges as well.”
Real estate experts told the Daily Caller News Foundation that the Engoron ruling significantly undervalued President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago, Fla., property, which was valued at 2. It is believed to be worth more than $50 million.
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