New York AG Rejects Trump's Plea to Drop $454M Fraud Case

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Facts

  • New York Attorney General Letitia James on Tuesday declined US Pres.-elect Donald Trump's request to dismiss the $454M civil fraud case against him, his family, and his businesses.[1]
  • In a letter to Trump attorney D. John Sauer, Deputy Solicitor General Judith Vale argued that presidents do not have immunity from civil litigation arising from unofficial conduct, and such lawsuits may proceed during a president's term in office.[2][3]
  • James sued Trump in 2022, and this February, a New York judge found Trump, Trump Organization, and its top executives, liable for fraudulently inflating his net worth by issuing false financial statements.[4][5]
  • The defendants were ordered to pay $464M, with interest. Today, they owe more than $497M — that amount is increasing by nearly $112K each day.[6][7]
  • After Trump appealed the verdict, an appeals court in March reduced his required bond payment from $454M to $175M, which Trump has reportedly paid while pursuing his appeal.[8][9]
  • Last month, Sauer requested that James "vacate the Judgment and dismiss all claims with prejudice... for the greater good of the country."[8]

Sources: [1]FOX News, [2]ABC News, [3]Scribd, [4]New York State Attorney General, [5]NBC, [6]The Hill, [7]Bloomberg, [8]New York Post and [9]CNBC.

Narratives

  • Republican narrative, as provided by FOX News and Breitbart. James' case has no victims, complaints, causation, or injuries and losses. It would be dangerous to permit such an action to remain pending against Trump as it will impede a sitting US president from carrying out his constitutional duties. For the health of the nation, James must stop weaponizing the law against Trump.
  • Democratic narrative, as provided by Audacy and MSNBC.Trump's upcoming administration has no bearing on the case's outcome. James' case isn't a criminal action — and since the court hasn't imposed any criminal sanction on the defendants — its so-called burdens don't impede the president's official duties in a way that violates the US Constitution. Trump must pay for his repeated and persistent fraud.