Judge Arthur Engoron of the New York State Supreme Court denied a request from former President Donald Trump’s lawyers to delay formalizing his decision to order Trump to pay $354 million in fines, plus nearly $100 million in interest, in his civil fraud case in New York.
Engoron said he would sign a judgment proposed by the state, finalizing his ruling, and expressed confidence that the Appellate Division would protect Trump’s appellate rights.
Last Friday, Engoron ruled that Trump and the Trump Organization must pay a total of $453.5 million for orchestrating a scheme to inflate asset values.
Trump (Credits: CBS News)
The ruling included fines, sanctions, and restrictions, such as barring Trump from seeking loans from New York financial institutions for three years and banning him from serving as an officer or director of any New York corporation for three years. Trump has vowed to appeal the ruling, alleging it was politically motivated.
On Tuesday, the attorney general’s office proposed a judgment that outlined the penalties in Engoron’s order. Trump’s attorney objected, calling it an “improper, unilateral submission.”
Trump’s lawyers asked Engoron on Wednesday to postpone enforcement of the judgment for 30 days, citing the need for an orderly post-judgment process. Engoron replied that he intended to sign the proposed judgment.
Trump’s attorney made a final plea on Thursday for a brief stay of enforcement, citing potential prejudice to the defendants. However, Engoron denied the request, stating that Trump’s attorney failed to justify any basis for a stay.
To appeal the ruling, Trump would need to post a bond covering the $354 million in penalties. If he does not have the funds, New York Attorney General Letitia James said she is prepared to ask a judge to seize his assets to ensure the judgment is paid.
In a recent development in the civil fraud case against former President Donald Trump, Judge Arthur Engoron of the New York State Supreme Court denied a request from Trump’s lawyers to delay finalizing his decision.
Last week, Engoron ordered Trump and the Trump Organization to pay $354 million in fines and nearly $100 million in interest for their involvement in a scheme to inflate asset values.
The judge’s decision to deny the delay means that a judgment proposed by the New York Attorney General’s Office, which outlines the penalties, will be finalized.
This includes fines, sanctions, and restrictions on Trump, such as a ban on seeking loans from New York financial institutions for three years and a prohibition from serving as an officer or director of any New York corporation for three years.
Trump has vowed to appeal the ruling, which he has criticized as politically motivated. To appeal, Trump would need to post a bond covering the $354 million in penalties.
If he does not have the funds, the attorney general’s office has stated that it is prepared to ask a judge to seize his assets to ensure the judgment is paid. The judge’s decision underscores the ongoing legal battles faced by Trump and highlights the significant financial implications of the case.
