NEW YORK (AP) — Fresh off wins in other legal battles, Donald Trump urged a New York appeals court on Monday to overturn a nearly $500 million civil fraud judgment.
This judgment threatens his personal finances as he campaigns to return to the White House.
Trump’s lawyers filed paperwork with the state’s mid-level appeals court, arguing that Manhattan Judge Arthur Engoron’s February 16th ruling was “erroneous” and “egregious.”
Engoron had found that Trump lied to banks, insurers, and others about his wealth.
The appeal echoed Trump’s trial arguments, which he had often shared with TV cameras outside the courtroom. His lawyers argued that the lawsuit from New York Attorney General Letitia James should have been dismissed.
They claimed some allegations were beyond the statute of limitations, that no one was harmed by the alleged fraud, and that James’ involvement in private business could drive business out of New York.
Trump’s lawyers warned that if Engoron’s decision is upheld, it would give James “limitless power to target anyone she desires, including her political opponents.”
This argument was detailed in a 116-page filing with the Appellate Division of the state’s trial court.
Engoron had previously dismissed many of these objections during the trial, comparing them to the repetitive plot of the film “Groundhog Day.”
He even fined some of Trump’s lawyers $7,500 each for “repetitive, frivolous” arguments.
The Appellate Division had also denied Trump’s earlier attempts to end the case on grounds such as the statute of limitations.
In April, Trump posted a $175 million bond to prevent the collection of the judgment and to stop James’ office from seizing his assets during the appeal. If Trump wins the appeal, he won’t have to pay the state and will get back the money he posted.
Christopher Kise, Trump’s lawyer, called Engoron’s decisions “legally bereft” and “untethered to the law or to commercial reality,” describing the judgment as “draconian, unlawful, and unconstitutional.”
The Appellate Division is set to hear oral arguments in late September.
Trump’s lawyers initiated the appeal soon after Engoron’s ruling, with Monday being the deadline for filing written arguments. James’ office responded, stating that Trump’s arguments were unfounded. “We won this case based on the facts and the law, and we are confident we will prevail on appeal,” James’ office said.
According to the source, this appeal is part of a significant legal and political stretch for Trump.
Last week, he accepted the Republican party’s presidential nomination shortly after a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a shooting incident resulted in one attendee’s death and two others injured.
On July 1, the Supreme Court ruled that ex-presidents have immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts while in office, delaying Trump’s Washington, D.C., election interference case.
This delay also postponed his sentencing in his New York hush money criminal case until September 18 as his lawyers fight to overturn the conviction.
Additionally, on July 15, a federal judge in Florida dismissed Trump’s classified documents case, ruling that Special Counsel Jack Smith was illegally appointed by the Justice Department. Smith is appealing this decision.
In the civil fraud case, Engoron found that Trump, his company, and top executives, including his sons Eric and Donald Trump Jr., schemed for years to inflate his wealth on financial statements to secure loans and deals.
Besides the financial penalty, the judge imposed strict limitations on Trump’s company’s business activities, placing the Trump Organization under a court-appointed monitor’s supervision for at least three years.
Trump’s appeal ensures the legal battle over his business practices will continue into the fall and beyond. If upheld, Engoron’s ruling would force Trump to surrender a significant portion of his fortune.
The judge ordered Trump to pay $355 million in penalties, which, with interest, has grown to over $470 million. This amount increases by nearly $112,000 daily until paid unless the verdict is overturned.
Trump maintains he is worth several billion dollars and testified last year that he had about $400 million in cash, alongside properties and other investments. James has indicated that if Trump cannot pay, she will seek to seize some of his assets.
Trump and his lawyers have laid the groundwork for their appeal for months, frequently objecting to Engoron’s handling of the trial.
Trump has called the decision “election interference” and an “attack on a political opponent,” claiming he was punished for having built a “perfect company.”
Trump’s lawyers have accused Engoron of “tangible and overwhelming” bias and objected to the legal basis of James’ lawsuit. They argue the law used is typically applied to consumer protection, not business transactions.
Trump’s legal team has approached the Appellate Division multiple times to challenge Engoron’s rulings, including an attempt to overturn a gag order and $15,000 in fines after Trump made a false social media post about a court staffer.
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They have also argued that some allegations are barred by the statute of limitations, claiming Engoron failed to follow a previous ruling to narrow the trial’s scope.
The Appellate Division could uphold Engoron’s verdict, reduce the penalty, or overturn the decision. If unsuccessful, Trump can appeal to the state’s highest court, the Court of Appeals.