On Friday, a judge is set to announce a decision in Donald Trump’s New York civil fraud trial, potentially bringing about a significant financial setback for the former president.
New York Attorney General Letitia James is aiming for $370 million in penalties, alleging that Trump inflated the value of his real estate assets, including his Trump Tower penthouse, to secure better loan terms.
Trump has baselessly criticized the trial as politically motivated, targeting the Democratic attorney general and judge involved, whom he has repeatedly criticized publicly and on social media.
On Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump wrote in all caps, “This crooked judgement (sic) will be a dark and sad day for the justice system in New York State,” in reference to the anticipated verdict, which is anticipated on Friday.
Due to a fraud finding, Trump fears the “corporate death penalty.”
Three weeks after a federal jury in Manhattan sentenced Trump to pay writer E. Jean Carroll $83.3 million in a defamation case, the expected judgment will take place.
Additionally, the decision was made just one day after a judge decided that Trump will go on trial for a crime on March 25 in a different New York case in which he is accused of fabricating financial records to conceal payments of hush money to a former Playboy model and adult film actress.
In addition, the former president is being prosecuted at the state and federal levels for allegedly manipulating elections and concealing secret papers.
Trump gave a scathing testimony during the civil fraud trial in Engoron’s courtroom, attacking the judge and his chief law clerk in the process, and fining the 2024 Republican front-runner $15,000 for breaking gag orders.
The former president would no longer have his New York business certificates after Engoron’s ruling in September that he had falsely exaggerated his financial records. Trump referred to this ruling as the “corporate death penalty.” The order for business certificates has been postponed by an appeals court.
Trump refers to the fraud case as ‘election interference’
Following the judge’s decision from the previous year, a trial was held to ascertain what penalties, if any, should be imposed on Trump, his two eldest sons, two executives of the Trump Organization, and many other commercial entities. Attorney General James estimated that Trump received $371 million in fraudulent gains.
In a farewell address to the court last month, the former president declared of James, “The person in the room right now hates Trump. This is partially election interference.”
“Control your client,” Engoron instructed Trump’s attorney.
According to seasoned New York political adviser Hank Sheinkopf, Trump won’t be negatively impacted politically by Engoron’s decision on Friday, even though it would cost his finances.
