Donald Trump has appealed his $454m New York civil fraud judgment, challenging a judge’s ruling that he manipulated the value of his properties to obtain advantageous loan and insurance rates as he grew his real estate empire.
The former president’s lawyers filed a notice of appeal on Monday asking the state’s mid-level appeals court to overturn Judge Arthur Engoron’s ruling in a civil fraud lawsuit brought in 2022 by New York attorney general Letitia James.
Engoron found that Trump, his company and top executives, including his sons Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump, schemed for years to deceive banks and insurers by inflating his wealth on financial statements used to secure loans and make deals.
The judgment, which includes $354m in penalties plus $100m in pre-judgement interest following the three-month, non-jury trial that concluded on 16 February, will continue to accrue interest if the former president fails to pay.
The former president, who has repeatedly described the prosecution as a “witch-hunt”, has denied all wrongdoing.
If upheld, Judge Arthur Engoron’s ruling would force Donald Trump to give up a sizable chunk of his fortune as he pursues the Republican nomination to challenge Joe Biden in the November presidential election.
Trump has maintained that he is worth several billion dollars, and in a deposition last year said he had about $400m in cash, in addition to properties and other investments.
Donald Trump’s appeal against his New York civil fraud judgment means that the legal fight over the former president’s business practices will persist into the thick of the presidential primary season, and likely beyond.
The appeals court could potential put Judge Arthur Engoron’s ruling on hold during an appeals process that could last a year or longer.
Trump faces 91 felony charges as well as mounting legal fees and vast financial penalties that he has tapped his campaign fund to help pay. But his legal travails have only strengthened his support.
Engoron’s 16 February ruling, which includes $354m in penalties plus $100m in pre-judgement interest, will increase by nearly $112,000 per day until Trump pays.
Trump already put $5.5m into a state-controlled escrow account to cover the first defamation judgment that he owes E Jean Carroll. He owes another $83m to Carroll following a late January federal court ruling that he had defamed her again.
Donald Trump has appealed his $454m New York civil fraud judgment, challenging a judge’s ruling that he manipulated the value of his properties to obtain advantageous loan and insurance rates as he grew his real estate empire.
The former president’s lawyers filed a notice of appeal on Monday asking the state’s mid-level appeals court to overturn Judge Arthur Engoron’s ruling in a civil fraud lawsuit brought in 2022 by New York attorney general Letitia James.
Engoron found that Trump, his company and top executives, including his sons Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump, schemed for years to deceive banks and insurers by inflating his wealth on financial statements used to secure loans and make deals.
The judgment, which includes $354m in penalties plus $100m in pre-judgement interest following the three-month, non-jury trial that concluded on 16 February, will continue to accrue interest if the former president fails to pay.
The former president, who has repeatedly described the prosecution as a “witch-hunt”, has denied all wrongdoing.
The chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC) plans to stand down beginning next week, paving the way for a slate of Donald Trump loyalists to lead the party in the run-up to the November general elections.
Ronna McDaniel announced her decision to step down just days after the former president endorsed the North Carolina Republican party chair, Michael Whatley, to lead the RNC; his daughter-in-law Lara Trump to be its co-chair; and his close campaign aide Chris LaCivita as the party’s chief operating officer.
Ronna McDaniel in Washington DC in 2022. Photograph: Alex Brandon/AP
McDaniel’s decision to step down on 8 March comes less than 48 hours after Trump’s resounding victory in the South Carolina primary over the state’s former governor Nikki Haley, virtually guaranteeing his place as the Republican presidential nominee.
The RNC elections will give Trump an opportunity to underline his influence over the party, adding further pressure on Haley to step aside. Trump’s popularity among the Republican base remains solid, despite facing a slew of criminal and civil legal battles in multiple jurisdictions.
Good morning, US politics blog readers. Republican National Committee (RNC) chair Ronna McDaniel has formally announced her resignation after weeks of public pressure from Donald Trump, as he pushes to assert control over the party at the height of the presidential primary season.
McDaniel announced her decision to step down from her position on 8 March, days after Super Tuesday, so as to “allow our nominee to select a Chair of their choosing” in a statement this morning. She added:
The RNC has historically undergone change once we have a nominee and it has always been my intention to honor that tradition.
Her announcement came after Trump easily won the South Carolina primary on Saturday and after he endorsed North Carolina’s GOP chair, Michael Whatley, to replace her. Trump also picked his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, to serve as committee co-chair.
Here’s what else we’re watching:
A conservative Super Pac founded by the billionaire Koch brothers has said it will no longer spend money on Nikki Haley’s Republican presidential campaign.
Joe Biden is set to meet with congressional leaders at the White House this week ahead of another potential partial government shutdown at the end of the week.
Hunter Biden has said in a rare interview that he sees remaining sober as crucial not only to his life, but for the election effort to keep Trump out of the Oval Office.
