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The judge overseeing a fraud case against Donald Trump swiftly dismissed a plea from his lawyer, Clifford S. Robert, to delay the enforcement of a monumental $350 million judgment.
With pre-judgment interest, the judgment now exceeds $450 million. This legal battle, led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, has marked a significant chapter in Trump’s post-presidential legal challenges.
Judge Arthur Engoron, overseeing the case, promptly rejected Robert’s plea, stating that there was a lack of explanation or justification for a delay, particularly considering the existence of a court-appointed monitor.
Robert argued for a brief delay via email, asserting that it wouldn’t prejudice the Attorney General’s office and emphasizing the need for an organized post-judgment process, given the substantial amount at stake. However, both Judge Engoron and special counsel Andrew Amer disagreed, stating that the defendants failed to present any valid grounds for a delay.
In response, Amer, in a letter to Engoron, emphasized the defendants’ failure to provide a basis for delaying the judgment’s enforcement. He pointed out that the court had previously denied such relief in their post-trial brief. Amer suggested that if the defendants sought a delay, they should present their case to the appeals court.
In a follow-up email, Robert argued that a delay wouldn’t harm the Attorney General’s office but would significantly prejudice the defendants. Engoron’s response indicated that Robert should present his case for the delay to the appeals court, expressing confidence in the Appellate Division’s protection of their appellate rights.
The judgment, which has garnered substantial interest, continues to accumulate interest at a rate of 9% annually until it is paid. Trump is expected to appeal the ruling, but the legal process requires him to post a bond for the full amount of the damages before proceeding.
This legal saga began in early January when Attorney General Letitia James sought a $370 million fine against Trump and his companies. The initial request also included a lifetime ban on Trump and two former company executives from the real estate industry in the state, along with five-year bans for Trump’s sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump.
The judge eventually imposed a three-year ban on Trump and two former executives from serving in leadership positions in the state and a two-year ban on his sons.
