Aiexpress – A judge from the New York Appeals Court has rejected former President Trump’s plea to postpone the payment of $464 million to the state. This amount is owed as a result of Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit. However, the judge has granted a temporary allowance for Trump and his sons to keep operating their business while the appeals process is ongoing.
Earlier this month, a decision was made to bar Trump and his sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, from operating their business in New York for a period of two to three years. In addition, Trump himself was found liable for a substantial amount of damages, totaling in the hundreds of millions of dollars, in a civil fraud case filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James against him, his family, and the Trump Organization.
The ruling is being appealed by the former president.
On Wednesday, however, a New York Appeals Court judge decided that the former president must post a bond for the whole amount of the judgment, and an independent director of compliance will be established.
The judge has granted temporary permission for Trump and his sons to continue operating the business while they appeal the ruling.
Before the entire Appeals Court hears the motion, the filing is an interim order. James’ brief to the panel is due March 11, with Trump’s responses due March 18.
The finding comes after New York Judge Arthur Engoron issued his decision earlier in February following a months-long trial that began in October and stemmed from James’ complaint alleging the former president exaggerated his assets and committed fraud.
Engoron found Trump and the other defendants responsible for “persistent and repeated fraud,” “falsifying business records,” “issuing false financial statements,” “conspiracy to falsify false financial statements,” “insurance fraud,” and “conspiracy to commit insurance fraud.”
The judge also forbade Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump from functioning as officers or directors of any New York corporation or legal body for a two-year period.
Engoron also “permanently” barred defendants Allen Weisselberg, the Trump Organization’s former chief financial officer, and former corporate controller Jeffrey McConney from “serving in the financial control function of any New York corporation or similar business entity registered and/or licensed in New York State” and as a director of any New York corporation or other legal entity in New York for three years.
James filed the case, accusing Trump and the Trump Organization of deceptive business activities. The court proceedings were heated, with Engoron periodically issuing a partial gag order to prevent Trump from disparaging court personnel.
James requested $370 million from Trump, plus 9% interest in penalties. Any cash granted would be directed to the New York State Treasury, unless authorized otherwise by the state comptroller.
Throughout the trial, Trump denounced it as a “witch hunt,” accusing Engoron and James of being Democratic political operatives. Trump’s legal team also constantly criticized the absence of a jury in the trial.
“There was never an option to choose a jury trial,” a Trump spokesman told Fox News Digital last month. “It is unfortunate that a jury won’t be able to hear how absurd the merits of this case are and conclude that no wrongdoing ever happened.”
Trump and his family disputed any wrongdoing, with the former president claiming his assets were undervalued. Trump’s legal team insisted on disclaimers in his financial filings and instructed institutions to do their own appraisals.
Trump has stated that his financial statements are “perfect” and that the bank loans have been repaid, leaving him “as happy as can be.”
Throughout the trial, Trump’s attorneys presented witnesses, including former Deutsche Bank executives, who claimed that the banks craved greater business with Trump, whom they regarded as a “whale of a client.”
Trump’s defense also called on expert witnesses, including New York University accounting professor Eli Bartov, who evaluated the Trump financial accounts at issue in the case and found no evidence of accounting fraud.
Last month, Bartov testified that Trump’s financial records did not violate accounting principles, and he argued that anything improper, such as a significant year-over-year increase in the estimated worth of his Trump Tower penthouse, was simply a mistake.
“My main finding is that there is no evidence whatsoever of any accounting fraud,” the witness said. Trump claimed that his financial statements “were not materially misstated.”
