NEW YORK – As Donald Trump enters the final stretch of his White House run, his legal team is preparing for a pivotal court battle in New York. The former president is seeking to overturn a civil fraud judgment that could potentially cost him almost $500 million.
The Republican presidential nominee has not confirmed whether he will be present for Thursday’s hearings before a five-judge panel in a state appeals court in Manhattan. The live stream of the arguments is expected online starting at noon.
Trump is challenging the ruling by Judge Arthur Engoron from February, which concluded that he had misrepresented his wealth in documents provided to banks, insurers, and other parties to facilitate transactions and obtain loans. This decision struck at the heart of Trump’s image as a successful businessman.
Trump has criticized the verdict in New York Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit against him as “election interference,” alleging that Engoron’s ruling was a punitive measure against his business success. His legal team argues that the judgment is unjust and should be overturned.
The attorneys also claim that some allegations should be time-barred and that private business deals should not be under state scrutiny. Furthermore, they have accused Engoron of bias and overstepping his judicial authority in handling the case.
On the opposing side, state lawyers assert that there is substantial evidence supporting the original verdict and that Trump’s appeal lacks legal merit. D. John Sauer will represent Trump in the court proceedings, while Judith Vale will argue on behalf of James’ office.
Engoron’s ruling, following a lengthy trial, uncovered Trump’s inflated net worth in financial statements, leading to the imposition of significant penalties. The judgment, with accumulated interest, now exceeds $489 million.
Trump has posted a bond to halt the enforcement of the judgment while his appeal is pending, demonstrating his resolve to contest the ruling through all available legal channels.
The Appellate Division is expected to deliver a ruling approximately a month after the hearings, potentially affecting the outcome before the upcoming Election Day. Both parties retain the option to appeal further to the Court of Appeals if dissatisfied with the decision.
Trump remains steadfast in his commitment to challenge the judgment, vowing to take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary.
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