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New York Attorney General Letitia James responded to an appeals court decision that overturned a $500 million-plus civil fraud penalty against President Donald Trump and his two sons, while affirming that Trump had engaged in decades of wealth exaggeration. In a statement, James said, “While the penalty was reversed, yet another court has ruled that the president violated the law, and that our case has merit.”
Why It Matters
James, a Democrat, led the legal challenge against Trump’s companies for overinflating their worth to secure loans and deals with banks and insurers. In 2024, Judge Arthur Engoron ruled in favor of New York, ordering Trump and his sons to pay over $350 million in penalties.
What To Know
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With interest, the original sum has now grown to approximately $572 million. Trump’s lawyers argue this is excessive and have immediately appealed. The appeals court, divided on the merits, threw out Engoron’s penalty but left the door open for further appeals to New York’s highest court, the Court of Appeals.
James stated: “The First Department today affirmed the well-supported finding of the trial court: Donald Trump, his company, and two of his children are liable for fraud. The court upheld injunctive relief limiting Trump and the Trump Organization officers’ ability to do business in New York. Yet another court has ruled that the president violated the law, and our case has merit.”
“We will seek appeal to the Court of Appeals and continue to protect the rights and interests of New Yorkers,” she added.
Trump and his sons celebrated the legal victory, with Trump writing on Truth Social: “This was a Case of Election Interference by the City and State trying to show illegally that I did things wrong when in fact, everything I did was absolutely CORRECT and PERFECT. Every single Dollar was thrown out.”
Eric Trump wrote on X: “Total victory in the sham NY Attorney General case!!! After 5 years of hell, justice prevailed!” Donald Trump Jr. added on X: “Massive Win!!! New York Appeals Court has just THROWN OUT President Trump’s $500+ Million civil fraud penalty! It was always a witch hunt, election interference, and a total miscarriage of justice… and even a left-leaning NY appeals court agrees! NO MORE LAWFARE!”
He later retweeted one of James’s messages about the total owed by Trump and his associates, writing: “I believe you mean $0.00. Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
What Happens Next
James plans to appeal the decision but has not specified when or how long it will take.
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