New York Legal professional Basic Letitia James sits in courtroom in the course of the civil fraud trial of Donald Trump on the New York State Supreme Courtroom on October 24, 2023, in New York Metropolis. | Supply: Pool / Getty
Donald Trump was dealt a sobering dose of actuality on Tuesday when the New York Legal professional Basic’s workplace stated there was “no foundation” to drop a mammoth civil fraud judgment in opposition to the president-elect.
The agency rejection of Trump’s repeated requests to drop the practically half-billion-dollar judgment got here as he has been making an attempt to claim his immunity in different authorized circumstances in opposition to him, seemingly rising victorious in these situations.
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However not on the subject of New York Legal professional Basic Letitia James, whose civil fraud swimsuit in opposition to Trump led to a jury in February discovering that he exaggerated the price of his enterprise and property to safe loans and different monetary advantages with out revealing that he’s not as rich as he claims. The punitive damages owed by Trump had been initially $464 million, however that determine has since inflated to $497 million due to the curiosity accrued whereas he tries to legally maneuver out of paying it.
And, in keeping with the letter from New York Deputy Solicitor Basic Judith N. Vale responding to a letter from D. John Sauer, an legal professional nominated by Trump to be solicitor common, the president-elect continues to be very a lot on the hook to pay the invoice.
“Your letter presents no foundation for this Workplace to hunt to vacate the ultimate judgment or to
dismiss this motion,” Vale wrote in no unsure phrases to Sauer in the latter dated Monday.
Legal professional Basic Letitia James sits within the courtroom in the course of the civil fraud trial of Donald Trump on the New York Supreme Courtroom on January 11, 2024, in New York Metropolis. | Supply: Pool / Getty
Vale defined the rationale for protecting the judgment as-is was twofold.
Citing authorized precedent, Vale shot down claims that the judgment would adversely have an effect on Trump’s presidency, saying they’d “no advantage” and noting that the “atypical burdens of civil litigation don’t impede the President’s official duties in a manner that violates the U.S. Structure.”
As well as, Vale reminded Sauer that “the overwhelming proof helps [New York] Supreme Courtroom’s conclusion that Mr. Trump and the opposite defendants engaged in repeated and chronic fraud and illegality” – a non-negotiable proven fact that prompted “awarding disgorgement and different equitable reduction.”
Learn Vale’s full letter by clicking right here.
Trump’s legal professionals beforehand stated that the purported billionaire couldn’t afford to pay the judgment.
Vale’s defiant response contrasts with the actions of federal particular counsel Jack Smith, who was prosecuting Trump in a 2020 election interference case earlier than transferring final month to dismiss all the fees. These dropped costs got here after the U.S. Supreme Courtroom determined in July to grant immunity for crimes {that a} president might commit.
Now’s a very good time to be reminded that Trump has relentlessly taunted James, and he even doxxed her whereas he was underneath a gag order. He repeatedly referred to as her and different Black prosecutors who introduced circumstances in opposition to him “racist” with out bothering to present a single instance of their racism — which might have been wealthy anyway coming from a person who offers limitless examples of his personal racism.
Given these above info, Sauer nonetheless openly appealed to James to drop the judgment underneath the purported guise that it will assist Trump – a person who the U.S. Division of Justice claimed “pursued illegal technique of discounting authentic votes and subverting election outcomes” – finish “our Nation’s partisan strife” and be “for the larger good of the nation.”
That is America.
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