Just over an hour ago, the judge rendered his ruling in the New York civil fraud case brought against former President Donald Trump, his family, and his business associates by state Attorney General Letitia James. My colleague Susie Moore wrote:
More eye-popping legal news on Friday as New York Judge Arthur Engoron issued a 92-page ruling in which he ordered former President Donald Trump and others in the Trump organization to pay fines of roughly $350 million, in addition to barring them from serving as officers or directors in any New York corporation or legal entity for the next several years.[…]
Of note, Judge Engoron did vacate his September 26, 2023 directive canceling the defendants’ business certificates.
READ: BREAKING: Judge Orders Trump to Pay Over $350 Million, Bars From NY Business in Civil Fraud Case
After the decision was announced, Trump’s attorneys blasted Judge Engoron for the massive fines and other penalties, saying that he did not follow the law when making the 92-page decision::
Alina Habba said the verdict “is a massive injustice – plain and simple.” She continued that
“[i]t is the culmination of a multi-year, politically fueled witch hunt that was designed to “take down Donald Trump,” before Letitia James ever stepped foot into the Attorney General’s office.
Habba characterized the ruling as a “witch hunt” to disparage the GOP presidential front-runner, alleging the takedown was planned even before New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) took up her role.[…]
“Given the grave stakes, we trust that the Appellate Division will overturn this egregious verdict and end this relentless persecution against my clients,” she said.
Christopher Kise said:
Legal cases are supposed to be decided based on the application of established legal principles to the actual evidence. During 44 days of trial, not one witness, not one complaint, and not one victim supported the Attorney General’s manufactured claims of ‘fraud.’[…]
Make no mistake, the sobering future consequences of this tyrannical abuse of power do not just impact President Trump. When a Court willingly allows a reckless government official to meddle in the lawful, private, and profitable affairs of any citizen based on political bias, America’s economic prosperity and way of life are at extreme risk of extinction.
Now, Donald Trump, the leading candidate for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, has released a fiery response on the Truth Social platform to not only Engoron’s ruling but the New York AG’s office, and what he sees as an ongoing political attack:
🚨 STATEMENT FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP 1/3 pic.twitter.com/jVEk2oYj6T
— Karoline Leavitt (@kleavittnh) February 16, 2024
🚨 STATEMENT FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP 2/3 pic.twitter.com/aU2AxSnSCh
— Karoline Leavitt (@kleavittnh) February 16, 2024
🚨 STATEMENT FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP 3/3 pic.twitter.com/NYiITot7P6
— Karoline Leavitt (@kleavittnh) February 16, 2024
This is a developing story. RedState will bring you further details as they become available.
Related: New York AG Letitia James’ Penalty Request Jumps From $250M to $370M in Trump Civil Fraud Case
