Trump civil fraud case: Judge fines Trump $354 million, says frauds 'shock the conscience'

The former president was found to have defrauded lenders.

Former President Donald Trump has been fined $354.8 million plus approximately $100 million in interest in a civil fraud lawsuit that could alter the personal fortune and real estate empire that helped propel him to the White House. In the decision, Judge Arthur Engoron excoriated Trump, saying the president's credibility was "severely compromised," that the frauds "shock the conscience" and that Trump and his co-defendants showed a "complete lack of contrition and remorse" that he said "borders on pathological."

Engoron also hit Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump with $4 million fines and barred all three from helming New York companies for years. New York Attorney General Letitia James accused Trump and his adult sons of engaging in a decade-long scheme in which they used "numerous acts of fraud and misrepresentation" to inflate Trump's net worth in order get more favorable loan terms. The former president has denied all wrongdoing and has said he will appeal.


Summary of penalties

Donald Trump and his adult sons were hit with millions in fines in the civil fraud trial and barred for years from being officers in New York companies. The judge said the frauds "shock the conscience."

Donald Trump: $354 million fine + approx. $100 million in interest
+ barred for 3 years from serving as officer of NY company
Donald Trump Jr.: $4 million fine
+ barred for 2 years from serving as officer of NY company
Eric Trump: $4 million fine
+ barred for 2 years from serving as officer of NY company
Former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg: $1 million fine
+ barred for 3 years from serving as officer of NY company
+ barred for life from financial management role in NY company
Former Trump Organization controller Jeffrey McConney:
+ barred for 3 years from serving as officer of NY company
+ barred for life from financial management role in NY company


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'We have a busy day,' judge says as court gets underway

"We have a busy day and a busy week, so let's try to move things along," Judge Engoron remarked as he brought the courtroom to order to begin the day's proceedings.

"Would you like to continue your witness?" Engoron asked state attorney Eric Haren.

"We would," said Haren, before calling back to the stand former Trump Organization vice president David Orowitz, who began his testimony yesterday afternoon.

Defense attorneys Chris Kise, Alina Habba, and Jesus Suarez are sitting at the counsel table, leaving one seat available for Donald Trump Jr., who has not yet appeared ahead of his scheduled testimony this afternoon.


Trump rails against judge, gag order

Former President Trump continued to attack Judge Engoron this morning, calling him "crazy, totally unhinged, and dangerous" on his Truth Social platform.

"He then put a RIDICULOUS GAG ORDER ON ME, which we will appeal. He fines me at levels never seen before," Trump wrote this morning.

Trump recently paid $15,000 in fines related to two violations of the limited gag order Engoron established that prohibits public statements about the judge's staff.

Trump also complained about the potential fine that Engoron could impose in the case. During court yesterday, the judge remarked that disgorgement -- fining Trump for profits made through fraudulent means -- is a "clearly available remedy" in the case.

"Now they come up with something called 'disgorgement.' I never even heard of the term," Trump said.

Engoron already ruled in a partial summary judgment that Trump had submitted "fraudulent valuations" for his assets, leaving the trial to determine additional actions and what penalty, if any, the defendants should receive.


'Leave my children alone,' Trump says ahead of sons' testimony

Former President Trump attacked Judge Arthur Engoron and New York Attorney General Letitia James on social media ahead of today's expected testimony from his son Donald Trump Jr.

"Leave my children alone, Engoron. You are a disgrace to the legal profession!" Trump wrote overnight on his Truth Social platform.

Donald Trump Jr. is expected to begin his testimony in the afternoon today.

If that testimony concludes today, his brother Eric Trump could also begin his testimony.

Both of them are executive vice presidents in the Trump Organization.


Expert witness may take the stand Wednesday before Don Jr.

Day 20 of the trial wrapped up with testimony from former Trump Organization vice president David Orowitz, who testified about what he said was Ivanka Trump's significant involvement in loan negotiations related to Trump's Doral Golf Club in Miami and the Trump International Hotel in Chicago over a decade ago.

Ivanka Trump, who at the time was a vice president in the Trump Organization, was dismissed from the AG's lawsuit in June because she was no longer with the firm by 2016 -- though she is still scheduled to testify next week as the final witness for the state's case.

State attorneys had initially planned to complete the testimony of Orowitz, as well as that of expert witness Michiel McCarty, by the end of today -- but Orovitz's lengthy testimony kept that from happening.

As a result, their remaining testimony will either delay tomorrow's much-anticipated testimony from Donald Trump Jr. -- or it will be pushed to a different day.


Trump, ignoring judge's warning, tells court he's an 'innocent man'

Before Judge Arthur Engoron could even get Trump to agree to the terms the judge had laid down for the delivery of Trump's closing statement, the former president launched into a five-minute address while seated at the defense table.

It began when defense attorney Christopher Kise asked the judge to reconsider his decision and allow Trump to speak, and Engoron asked Trump if he would stay within the bounds of his closing argument.

Trump pressed immediately on.

"Well I think, your honor, this case goes outside the facts," Trump said. "The financial statements were perfect. The banks got all their money back. They were as happy as can be."

Ignoring the judge's prohibition regarding delving into politics, Trump said, "This is a political witch hunt that should be set aside. We should receive damages for what we've gone through."

He also attacked New York Attorney General Letitia James.

"I'm an innocent man. I've been persecuted by someone running for office," Trump said. "This statute is vicious. It doesn't give me a jury. It takes away my rights."

He said the tripling of the square footage of his Trump Tower penthouse on his statement of financial condition was a mistake -- "an honest mistake" that was corrected.

Trump declared, "This is a fraud on me. What's happened here, sir, is a fraud on me."