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.
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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
'This is ridiculous,' judge admonishes defense counsel
Judge Engoron lost patience with Trump's defense counsel during the cross-examination of longtime Trump accountant Donald Bender.
As defense attorney Jesus Suarez repeatedly asked Bender to recall how he arrived at specific values for specific assets in specific years, Engoron interrupted to ask how much longer the cross-examination would last.
Suarez said he would do his best to finish by the end of court today.
That prompted Kevin Wallace with the state attorney general's office to shout, incredulously, "Today?" Wallace accused Suarez of being overly performative with Trump seated at the defense table.
When Engoron reminded the defense, "Mr. Bender is not on trial here," Trump attorney Chris Kise interjected, "I would very much disagree with that."
The judge implored the defense to truncate the line of questioning.
"You're not allowed to waste time," Engoron said.
"This is insane," responded Trump attorney Alina Habba "He has not answered one question."
Engoron pounded the bench, asking reporters in the room to take note. "This is ridiculous," he barked.
Trump back in courtroom
Nearly 30 minutes after court resumed following a break, Trump entered the courtroom and returned to his seat at the counsel table.
The defense's cross examination of Mazars USA accountant Donald Bender continued after a brief interruption.
Trump not in courtroom following break
Court has resumed following a break, but Trump is notably absent from the courtroom. His paperwork remains at the counsel table, and his lawyers have left his seat empty.
Eric Trump and New York Attorney General Letitia James returned to the courtroom after the break, along with the lawyers for both sides.
Former Trump accountant Donald Bender is back on the stand for his cross-examination.
'Tell me what the point is,' judge tells Trump attorney
Trump attorney Jesus Suarez is continuing his attempts to discredit former Trump accountant Donald Bender's testimony, but his arguments seem to be wearing thin for the judge.
After Suarez played a short clip from Bender's deposition, Judge Engoron -- who is deciding the case himself -- told the attorney, "There's no jury. Tell me what the point is."
During another portion of the cross-examination, Engoron told Suarez, "It's starting to sound like 'How many angels can dance on the head of a pin.'"
Defense calling real estate expert to stand
Donald Trump's lawyers are calling real estate expert Robert Unell as a witness this morning.
Unell is one of several defense experts who submitted reports to the court disputing the New York attorney general's findings that Trump committed fraud in the statements of financial condition he provided to lenders.
"The financial information provided to the lenders was correct in all material respects and contrary to the Plaintiff's allegations, therefore the Defendants did not receive any financial benefits on commercial real estate loans based on the submission of any false, inflated, or misleading valuations," Unell wrote in his expert report.
Unell, in the deposition he gave to the defense, also defended Trump's use of a disclaimer -- which Trump has said is sometimes referred to as a "worthless clause" -- that warned lenders that Trump's statements might contain information that does not comply with standard accounting practices.
"I first read it in President Trump's deposition," Unell said regarding Trump's use of the "worthless clause" phrase. "And it kind of stuck. Because, quite honestly, I had never heard it called that, but it is truly what the meaning of it is."