New York’s highest court has dismissed an appeal from Donald Trump’s legal team, aiming to lift the gag order placed on the ex-president in the New York Attorney General’s civil fraud case.
Legal Appeal Dismissed: What’s Next?
Previously, New York’s appellate court had restored Judge Arthur Engoron’s order, which forbids Trump and his lawyers from publicly commenting on the courtroom personnel in the concluded $370 million trial as of November 2023.
Legal Hurdles Intensify in NY
On Tuesday, the New York Court of Appeals dismissed the appeal, noting that it doesn’t raise any significant constitutional questions. The judge had already fined Trump twice for breaching this order.
No Constitutional Ground
“On the Court’s own motion, appeal dismissed, without costs, upon the ground that no substantial constitutional question is directly involved. Motion for a stay dismissed as academic,” New York’s top court wrote.
Silencing Trump
Originally imposed by Engoron in October, the order restricts Trump from publicly discussing court staff following his multiple remarks about a clerk he claimed was biased.
An Ongoing Legal Battle
Last year, the judge determined Trump’s liability for fraud in the civil case and is set to finalize a decision on damages and six other claims by month’s end.
Trump’s Team Challenges Verdict
Trump’s attorneys have voiced grievances about the conduct of the attorney general’s office and the judge, including his clerk, throughout the three-month trial. They’ve also expressed their intention to challenge Engoron’s verdict.
Decade of Deception?
Trump, his sons Eric and Donald Trump Jr., and top figures in the Trump Organization stand accused by the New York Attorney General of a decade-long scheme, marked by ‘numerous acts of fraud and misrepresentation,’ to inflate Trump’s net worth for more favorable loan conditions.
Uncovering More Misconduct
Following a partial summary judgment by the judge, which concluded that Trump had presented ‘fraudulent valuations’ of his assets, the trial now focuses on uncovering additional misconduct and deciding potential penalties for the defendants.
Trump Maintains Innocence
Despite these allegations, former President Donald maintains his innocence, with his lawyers attributing the supposedly inflated valuations to his business acumen. A verdict in the high-profile lawsuit involving Trump is anticipated later this month, following the conclusion of closing arguments last week.
Political Motive Claims
Addressing the media outside the courthouse, New York State Attorney General Letitia James strongly refuted suggestions that her legal action against Trump is politically motivated.
No One Above Law
“This case has never been about politics, personal vendetta, or name-calling. This case is about the facts and the law, and Mr. Donald Trump violated the law,” James stated.
‘Justice will prevail’
She expressed gratitude towards her team, the judge, and even Trump’s legal representatives, reaffirming her belief that ‘justice will prevail’ in this case. James concluded with a statement on legal equality, asserting, “No matter how powerful you are, no matter how rich you are, no one is above the law.”
Historical Frauds
In a notable moment during the trial, Judge Arthur Engoron asked state attorney Kevin Wallace to wrap up the day’s session by comparing Donald Trump’s alleged fraud and Bernie Madoff’s historic Ponzi scheme, which robbed clients of billions in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
The Scale of Trump’s Legal Troubles
“How would you compare the fraud you are alleging to the Madoff Ponzi scheme?” inquired Engoron. Wallace maintained that while Trump’s fraud was on a smaller scale compared to Madoff’s, it was still ‘significant’ considering the amount of money involved.
The Rich and the Law
“If you are rich enough, you are going to be allowed to do it. You’ll get away with it,” Wallace remarked. Wrapping up, Engoron estimated that his opinion on the case would be ready by January 31, marking the end of the day’s legal proceedings.
Attorney Points the Finger at Trump
State attorney Andrew Amer, in his address to the court, pointed directly at Donald Trump as the person responsible for his company’s actions. “The buck stopped with him, so he was responsible for all the conduct I just reviewed,” Amer stated, referring to Trump’s actions from 2011 to 2015, a period before his sons assumed control of the company following Trump’s presidential victory.
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