Donald Trump launches appeal against $454M court judgement he lied about wealth
Donald Trump has appealed his $454 million New York civil fraud judgment, challenging a judge's finding that Trump lied about his wealth as he grew the real estate empire that launched him to stardom and the presidency.
The former president's lawyers filed a notice of appeal Monday asking the state's mid-level appeals court to overturn Judge Arthur Engoron's February 16 verdict in Attorney General Letitia James' lawsuit.
Trump's lawyers wrote in court papers that they're asking the appeals court to decide whether Engoron "committed errors of law and/or fact" and whether he abused his discretion and/or his jurisdiction.
Judge Arthur Engoron presides over closing arguments in the Trump Organization civil fraud trial (Getty Images)Engoron found that Trump, his company and top executives, including his sons Eric and Donald Trump Jr., schemed for years to deceive banks and insurers by inflating his wealth on financial statements used to secure loans and make deals. Among other penalties, the judge put strict limitations on the ability of Trump's company, the Trump Organization, to do business.
The appeal ensures that the legal fight over Trump's business practices will persist into the thick of the presidential primary season, and likely beyond, as he tries to clinch the Republican presidential nomination in his quest to retake the White House
Teachers, civil servants and train drivers walk out in biggest strike in decade
The ruling could ruin Trump's business in New York (Getty Images)If upheld, Engoron's ruling will force Trump to give up a sizable chunk of his fortune. Engoron ordered Trump to pay $355 million in penalties, but with interest the total has grown to nearly $454 million. That total will grow alarmingly by nearly $112,000 per day until he pays.
Experts have increasinly expressed concern about Donald Trump's cognitive state as the election campaign heats up. With a strong win in the Republican primaries in South Carolina over his only real contender Nikki Haley, 2024 is looking to be a rematch of the 2020 elections between the 77-year-old Trump and 81-year-old Biden.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump sits in New York State Supreme Court during his civil fraud trial (Getty Images)His painful errors came as Dr. John Gartner, a psychologist and former professor at the Johns Hopkins University Medical School, delivered a damning verdict on both politicians. He argued that it is actually Trump and not President Biden who is showing diminished mental acuity and argues it is her who voters should be worried about.
As reported in Salon, he said: "Not enough people are sounding the alarm, that based on his behaviour, and in my opinion, Donald Trump is dangerously demented. In fact, we are seeing the opposite among too many in the news media, the political leaders and among the public. There is also this focus on Biden's gaffes or other things that are well within the normal limits of ageing.
"By comparison, Trump appears to be showing gross signs of dementia. This is a tale of two brains. Biden's brain is ageing. Trump's brain is dementing." Here, MirrorOnline takes an in-depth look at his recent howlers as questions continue about his suitability to stand once again.
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