Former President Donald Trump on Friday responded to the punishment handed down by Judge Arthur Engoron in a civil fraud case by calling the justice "crooked" and New York Attorney General Letitia James "corrupt."
"The Justice System in New York State, and America as a whole, is under assault by partisan, deluded, biased Judges and Prosecutors. Racist, Corrupt A.G. Tish James has been obsessed with 'Getting Trump' for years, and used Crooked New York State Judge Engoron to get an illegal, unAmerican judgment against me, my family, and my tremendous business," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "I helped New York City during its worst of times, and now, while it is overrun with Violent Biden Migrant Crime, the Radicals are doing all they can to kick me out....."
He wrote in a separate message: "A Crooked New York State Judge, working with a totally Corrupt Attorney General who ran on the basis of 'I will get Trump,' before knowing anything about me or my company, has just fined me $355 Million based on nothing other than having built a GREAT COMPANY. ELECTION INTERFERENCE. WITCH HUNT."
The Context
James sued Trump, his two adult sons, Donald Jr. and Eric, the Trump Organization and two firm executives, Allen Weisselberg and Jeff McConney, in September 2022. Engoron, who oversaw the civil trial, found that Trump inflated his assets to get more favorable business loans. Late last year, a months-long trial was held to determine how much Trump and his associates would pay in damages. Trump has maintained his innocence in the case.
What We Know
Engoron ruled on Friday that Trump will have to pay $354.9 million in penalties. Trump, Weisselberg and McConney will all also be barred from serving as an officer or director of any New York corporation or other legal entity in the state for three years, according to Engoron's ruling.
Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump were ordered to each pay more than $4 million, and both were banned from doing business in the state for two years.
Views
Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia slammed Engoron's decision.
"This is outrageous! This case had zero victims. The banks Trump 'defrauded' provided testimony in defense of Trump Hotels," Green wrote on X (formerly Twitter). "This sham persecution is Letitia James fulfilling her campaign promise to go after Trump—a nasty woman!"
The congresswoman continued: "These people belong in jail for the abuse of power they are wielding against President Trump and his family. We must end this weaponization of our justice system!"
Meanwhile, Mary Trump, the former president's estranged niece, wrote on X that "today is an emotional day."
"It has taken over half a century but Donald's ability to commit fraud with impunity has come to an end—at least in New York—and trust me, that matters to him," she wrote.
What's Next
Alina Habba, an attorney for Trump, announced an appeal will be filed.
"Given the grave stakes, we trust that the Appellate Division will overturn this egregious verdict and end this relentless persecution against my clients," Habba said in a statement.
"Let me make one thing perfectly clear: this is not just about Donald Trump—if this decision stands, it will serve as a signal to every single American that New York is no longer open for business," she added.
Update 02/16/24 6:35 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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Jon Jackson is an Associate Editor at Newsweek based in New York. His focus is on reporting on the Ukraine ... Read more
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