NJ Dem: I Wish Wiping Out ICE Was As Easy As Removing an...
Oh, So That's Who Signed Off on the FBI Spy Operation Into the...
Who Are the Real Kings?
Trump Just Called Off Planned Immigration 'Surge' In This City – for Now
Letitia James' ICE Snitch Line Will Backfire on Democrats
The 'Unbiased' Jon Karl Has Another Anti-Trump Book Coming Out, and Trump's Tearing...
Some Democrats Are Sour on Mandela Barnes Running for Wisconsin Governor
Another Day, Another Blow to Platner's Image
Michael Wolff Launches Lawsuit Against Melania Trump After Refusal to Retract Epstein Comm...
Candace Owens Hits a New Low, and Accuses Trump of Assassinating Charlie Kirk
Eric Adams Endorses Andrew Cuomo
DOJ: Guatemalan Man Faces Federal Charges in Tractor-Trailer Crash That Killed 50+ Illegal...
Federal Court Strikes Down Gender Identity Mandates on States, Health Care Providers
Trump Says Ford, General Motors Thanked Him for Tariffs on Mid, Large-Size Trucks
ICE Arrests Two Illegal Alien Fugitives Wanted for Murder of Texas Woman
Tipsheet

Appeals Court Lays Waste to Letitia James' Legal Assault on Trump

AP Photo/Alex Brandon

Somebody might want to check on New York Attorney General Letitia James. An appeals court just threw out the $500 million civil fraud penalty against President Donald Trump that resulted from James’ lawsuit against him during the 2024 campaign.

Advertisement

From the Wall Street Journal:

The decision from a five-judge panel provides a significant legal boost for Trump in the case, which was brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James. 

“The court’s disgorgement order, which directs that defendants pay nearly half a billion dollars to the State of New York, is an excessive fine that violates the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution,” Justice Peter Moulton wrote in one of three opinions, none of which commanded a majority. 

James, a Democrat, sued Trump in September 2022. She said her office had uncovered “incredible fraud and illegality,” alleging that Trump, his two eldest sons and former Trump Organization executives had lied to lenders to get cheaper real estate financing.

Her lawsuit claimed that Trump’s financial statements systematically overestimated the value of his marquee Manhattan skyscrapers, golf courses and other properties in financial statements to lenders.

James filed the lawsuit against Trump in September 2022, claiming that Trump, his company, his three eldest children, and others had engaged in a decades-long scheme to “falsely inflate his net worth by billions of dollars.”

Advertisement

The attorney general accused Trump of providing false information to secure favorable loan conditions, insurance terms, tax benefits, and continued access to credit by misrepresenting the size and values of his assets.

After an 11-week trial that wrapped up in early 2024, anti-Trump Judge Arthur Engoron found the president and his associates liable for fraud. He ordered a $354 million penalty, along with interest, which brought the total to just under $500 million.

The judge also imposed a three-year ban on Trump barring him from serving as an officer or director of his New York companies. He also prohibited him from receiving loans from New York financial institutions and mandated government supervision of the Trump Organization. 

Unfortunately for James and Engoron, the appeals court understood that the penalty was far too harsh.

The lawsuit was one of several efforts Democrats made to influence the outcome the 2024 election by weaponizing the legal system against Trump.

Meanwhile, James is facing her own investigation into allegations of mortgage fraud. 

Editor’s Note: Help us continue to report the truth about corrupt politicians like Letitia James.

Join Townhall VIP and use promo code FIGHT to get 60% off your membership.

Join the conversation as a VIP Member

Recommended

Trending on Townhall Videos

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement