Trump Ordered To Pay $370 Million?

In the highly publicized civil fraud trial, New York Attorney General Letitia James is pursuing a financial restitution of over $370 million from former President Donald Trump and his co-defendants. The demand for the substantial penalty aims to recover profits that James contends were unlawfully acquired, as outlined in a court document filed on Friday.

The attorney general asserts that the defendants’ intention to defraud is evident in the preparation and certification of Trump’s Statements of Financial Condition (SFCs). In September, Judge Arthur Engoron ruled that Trump and the Trump Organization engaged in fraud during the construction of his real estate empire. This fraudulent activity involved deceiving banks, insurers, and other stakeholders by inflating asset values and exaggerating net worth on paperwork used for deals and financing.

Describing the deceptive schemes as “outrageous” and beyond innocent explanation, James emphasized the gravity of the alleged misconduct in the court document filed on Friday. Despite the ruling, Trump and his family maintain their innocence, consistently denying any wrongdoing. Trump, while testifying, criticized the judge, claiming he ruled against him without knowing anything about him.

In response to Trump’s challenge to the imposed gag orders, the New York State Appellate Division First Department rejected his appeal last month. The ongoing non-jury civil trial originated from James’ lawsuit against Trump and his businesses within the state. Following the ruling, Judge Engoron implemented a partial gag order to prevent verbal attacks on court staff, prompted by Trump’s social media criticism of a member of the judge’s office. Engoron emphasized the inappropriateness of personal attacks on court staff and warned against their tolerance.