Trump Criticizes Fraud Ruling, Plans Appeal

Former President Donald Trump launched a scathing attack on Manhattan Judge Arthur Engoron’s ruling, which ordered him and his companies to pay more than $350 million for fraudulently misstating asset values. Trump took to Truth Social, his preferred platform, to denounce the decision as “a complete and Total SHAM,” accusing the U.S. justice system of being “under assault by partisan, deluded, biased Judges and Prosecutors.” He specifically targeted Engoron, labeling him a “Democrat Club-controlled” and “crooked” judge. Additionally, Trump accused New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought the case, of being “racist.”

Despite the ruling, Trump indicated that he would likely appeal, citing a previous decision that dismissed Ivanka Trump from the case due to claims against her exceeding the statute of limitations. Trump emphatically declared the case “OVER,” seemingly signaling his intent to continue fighting the ruling through the appeals process.

Following the ruling, Trump’s family and his attorney, Alina Habba, joined in criticizing the decision. Trump’s presidential campaign even leveraged the ruling as a fundraising opportunity, issuing an email to supporters with the subject line “DEMOCRAT NEW YORK JUDGE RULED AGAINST ME!”

Donald Trump Jr. weighed in on Truth Social, lamenting the state of the judicial system, which he described as politically motivated. Eric Trump echoed his brother’s sentiments, calling the ruling “a total joke” and promising an immediate appeal.

Habba, Trump’s attorney, took to Twitter to describe the ruling as “a manifest injustice” and “the culmination of a multi-year, politically fueled witch hunt,” indicating that they would continue to fight the decision through legal channels.

In contrast, Trump’s niece, Mary Trump, a vocal critic of her uncle, celebrated the ruling as a long-awaited end to what she characterized as Donald Trump’s ability to commit fraud with impunity. She described the ruling as “an emotional day,” suggesting that it marked the end of her grandfather Fred Trump’s real estate legacy.

The ruling by Manhattan Judge Arthur Engoron ordered Trump and his companies to pay $354.9 million, with his sons Eric and Donald Trump Jr. ordered to pay about $4 million each, and former CFO Allen Weisselberg ordered to pay $1 million. In addition to the financial penalties, Trump is also prohibited from heading up any New York businesses for three years, with his sons facing a two-year prohibition.

The ruling marks the culmination of a case first filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James in September 2022. The case accused Trump and his co-defendants of repeatedly overvaluing his assets to secure more favorable business deals. Engoron had previously ruled that Trump and his co-defendants were liable for fraud, determining that they had overvalued assets by up to $2.2 billion in some years.

Despite the impending appeal, Trump is required to begin making payments according to the order within 30 days.