Attorney Letitia James Ready to Claim Trump's Assets If He Fails to Pay His $355M Civil Fraud Fine

In her ABC News interview, New York Attorney General Letitia James stated her readiness to seize former President Donald Trump’s assets if he fails to pay the $354 million required for his civil fraud case fine.

Seizing Assets: A Legal Possibility?

“If he does not have funds to pay off the judgment, then we will seek judgment enforcement mechanisms in court, and we will ask the judge to seize his assets,” James told ABC News’ Aaron Katersky, just four days after a judge’s order.

The $354 Million Legal Blow

Recently, Trump encountered a significant legal setback when Judge Arthur Engoron found him guilty and imposed a fine of $354.8 million, plus around $100 million in pre-judgment interest. This decision came after it was determined that he exaggerated his net worth to secure better loan terms.

The former president has consistently denied any misconduct and intends to appeal the ruling.

Confident in Legal Battle

Expressing strong confidence in the appeal process, Attorney General Letitia James affirmed her office’s readiness to seize assets, specifically Trump’s 40 Wall Street building, to ensure the court-ordered payment.

Enforcing Trump’s Judgment

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“We are prepared to make sure that the judgment is paid to New Yorkers, and yes, I look at 40 Wall Street each and every day, “James stated, emphasizing the standard procedure for enforcing civil case judgments.

Financial Market Integrity at Stake

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Attorney General Letitia James also directly challenged Trump’s claim of no victims in the case, underscoring the importance of fair financial market practices for New Yorkers.

Trump’s Massive Fraud

James firmly addressed the severity of financial fraud, emphasizing that such crimes are not without victims.

“Financial frauds are not victimless crimes. He engaged in this massive amount of fraud. It wasn’t just a simple mistake, a slight oversight, the variations are wildly exaggerated, and the extent of the fraud was staggering,” she stated.

Equal Justice Under Law

James highlighted the disparity in treatment, asserting that if ordinary New Yorkers committed similar acts with false documents in a bank, they would face harsh consequences, and the same standard should apply to former presidents.

The ‘Left Wing’ Plot

In his first public address since receiving substantial financial penalties from Justice Arthur Engoron, Trump controversially alleged that the judge was part of a “left-wing” plot to prevent his potential presidential run.

An American Issue?

Speaking to a Michigan audience, the former president, currently leading in his party’s White House race, described these actions as not only an attack on him but on all Americans.

Pathological Lack of Regret

Commenting on the case, the judge remarked on Trump and his co-defendants’ apparent absence of regret, labeling it almost pathological.

The $3.6 Billion Exaggeration

Previously, Attorney General Letitia James had charged Trump and his business entities with grossly inflating his net worth by up to $3.6 billion annually over ten years to secure favorable loan conditions from banks.

Criminal Trial Countdown

Trump is currently entangled in four state and federal criminal trials, with one notably set to commence in New York on March 25, concerning alleged hush money payments to a porn star.

This situation positions him as the first ex-U.S. president to face a criminal trial.

A Woman on a Mission

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Following losses in two civil cases against columnist E. Jean Carroll, charges of election interference in Georgia from Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, and a recent defeat in his case against New York Attorney General Letitia James, James concluded the interview with a poignant remark: “Someone once told me if you want something done, give it to a woman.”