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.
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 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 believe it is necessary for the health of our country. I strongly believe that the fight 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. ”
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.”
Sauer also reminded her that in her case, there is “no victim, no complaint, no false statement, no causation, no injury, no loss.”
“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' trading partners were not defrauded, that they conducted their own due diligence and diligently sought and accepted profitable business transactions, and that the objections were not subject to any transaction terms. This proves conclusively that it had no effect.” ”
“As stated above, it was repaid in full on time or early,” he said.
“The chilling effect caused by this case has been devastating for businesses across New York, and companies will be forced to move to a friendly state where such substandard enforcement and excessive penalties are not seen,” Sauer said. “We have been forced to evacuate,” 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 Manhattan corridor from 59th Street to 72nd Street. He developed the Side Railyard, was deeply involved in the development of the Jacob Javits Center, and is solely responsible for: Among many other successes: “This case against him 'does not demonstrate a public purpose.'”
Sauer pointed to Trump's landslide victory and pending inauguration as the 47th president.
He also cited statements made by past presidents, particularly President Lincoln's remarks on October 3, 1863, “in our nation's most divisive period” when he issued the Thanksgiving Proclamation.
“President Lincoln urged Americans to put aside their bitter divisions so that the blessings of liberty may be “solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged by all the people of the United States with one heart and one voice.” I asked for it,” 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 purposes so that it may enjoy the fullest amount of peace, harmony, and tranquility. and the union.”
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.”
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 conspiring to falsify false financial statements. It was filed after he was found guilty of 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 Trump has vowed to fight the case “all the way to the 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.
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.
