Jimmy Williams
Donald Trump’s legal team has requested a 30-day delay in enforcing the recent civil fraud case ruling, which imposed a hefty fine of over $350 million on the former president and his company.
The ruling, handed down by New York Judge Arthur Engoron, also temporarily banned Trump from conducting business in the state. The attorney for Trump, Clifford S. Robert, argued in a letter to Judge Engoron that a brief stay in enforcement would allow for an orderly post-judgment process, emphasizing the ongoing presence of the court-appointed monitor overseeing financial disclosures and asset transfers.
In response to this request, Andrew Amer, a special counsel in the New York attorney general’s office, countered in a letter to Judge Engoron that the defendants had not provided any substantial basis for staying the enforcement of the judgment. Amer pointed out that the defendants had previously sought such relief in their post-trial brief, but the court had declined to grant it. The decision by Judge Engoron not only imposed significant financial penalties but also appointed an independent monitor to supervise the financial aspects of the case.
The ruling, issued last Friday, mandated Trump and the Trump Organization to pay damages exceeding $354 million and imposed a three-year ban on the former president holding leadership positions in New York companies. The damages, according to New York Attorney General Letitia James, surpass $450 million when factoring in pre-judgment interest, with the amount expected to increase until paid.
Trump is anticipated to appeal the ruling, a process that would require posting a bond for the full amount of the damages. In early January, Attorney General James had sought a $370 million fine against Trump and his companies, along with a lifetime ban on Trump and two former company executives from the real estate industry in the state.
The attorney general had also requested five-year bans for Trump’s sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, with similar conditions. However, the final ruling by Judge Engoron imposed a two-year ban on the Trump sons serving in leadership roles in any New York companies.