NY Court to Hear Trump's Appeal on $454M Civil Fraud Judgment

New York state lawyers have urged an appeals court to uphold a nearly $500 million civil fraud judgment against former President Donald Trump, asserting that there is "overwhelming evidence" of his long-term deception regarding his wealth. The case centers on allegations that Trump, along with his company and executives, manipulated financial statements to secure loans exceeding half a billion dollars and generate over $360 million in illicit profits. The Appellate Division is set to hear the case on September 26, just weeks before the upcoming Election Day. Trump is contesting the February ruling by Manhattan Judge Arthur Engoron, which found him liable for fraud. His legal team argues that the verdict was erroneous and that the statute of limitations should have barred some claims. They contend that the state should not interfere in private business transactions. In response, state lawyers maintain that the statute was applied correctly and that the attorney general has the authority to address fraudulent business practices, regardless of the entities involved. The judgment mandates Trump to pay $355 million in penalties for what the court deemed "ill-gotten gains," with the total amount owed, including interest, reaching $485.2 million. The attorney general's office highlighted specific instances of inflated property valuations, such as Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, which was allegedly overvalued by hundreds of millions of dollars. Trump's legal team has argued that the judgment is unconstitutional and that no harm was done. As Trump navigates this civil case, he is also facing a criminal case related to hush money payments, with a ruling on a defense request expected soon. His lawyers have requested that sentencing in the criminal case be postponed until after the November elections.