Politics
Trump attorneys ask New York high court to overturn civil fraud liability finding
Lawyers for Donald Trump filed an appeal in the New York Court of Appeals arguing the state attorney general lacked authority to prosecute private transactions that caused no public harm.
The short version
- Attorneys for Donald Trump filed a brief with the New York Court of Appeals seeking to throw out the liability finding in a civil fraud case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James.
- The appeal contends James lacked statutory authority under state law to intervene in private commercial transactions involving sophisticated lenders that reported no financial injury.
- Trump's legal team is seeking to overturn remaining restrictions on his business activities and corporate directorships in New York after an intermediate court previously vacated the monetary penalty.
Key facts
- Trump's legal team filed a brief in the New York Court of Appeals requesting the court overturn his liability finding in a civil fraud lawsuit.[Fox News]
- The lawsuit, initially brought in 2022 by Attorney General Letitia James, alleged that Trump routinely overvalued property assets to secure favorable loan and insurance terms.[Fox News]
- Trump was found liable in 2023, incurring restrictions on serving as an officer or director of New York companies and applying for loans from New York financial institutions.[Fox News]
- An intermediate appeals court previously vacated the original $355 million plus interest monetary award against Trump.[Fox News]
- The latest court brief argues that real estate valuations are inherently subjective estimates that were independently reviewed by commercial lenders.[Fox News]
What remains uncertain
- How and when the New York Court of Appeals will rule on the brief to throw out the underlying liability finding and remaining non-monetary sanctions.[Fox News]