Former US President Donald Trump holds a Save America-sponsored rally with Ted Budd, Madison Cawthorn, Bo Hines, Dan Bishop, Mark Robinson and Greg Murphy in Selma, NC, on April 9, 2022.
Peter Zay | Anadolu Agency | beautiful pictures
A New York judge who was a former President Donald Trump contempt of court on Monday for not complying subpoenas for business documents in connection with a civil investigation by the state attorney general’s office into his company.
Trump will have to pay $10,000 a day as long as he doesn’t comply with the subpoena.
Judge Arthur Engoron’s statement of contempt in Manhattan Supreme Court came after a hearing that lasted more than two hours in which attorneys for New York Attorney General Letitia James criticized Trump for dragging his feet. us in turning over the requested documents.
James is investigating the Trump Organization over allegations that it manipulated stated values of various real estate properties to obtain more favorable financing terms for loans and insurance, as well as to reduce their taxes.
“Mr. Trump… I know you take your business very seriously and I value my job too. So I respect you out of civil contempt,” Engoron said, though Trump doesn’t. was present in the courtroom, Reuters reported.
Anti-Trump protesters gather outside the New York County Supreme Court in New York City, U.S., April 25, 2022.
David Dee Delgado | Reuters
Engoron cited Trump’s “repeated failures” to turn over documents sought by James’ investigators.
The punishment that comes with the contempt order takes effect immediately.
James was quick to tweet. “Today, justice prevails.”
“For many years, Donald Trump has tried to evade the law and prevent our legitimate investigation into him and his company’s financial dealings,” James later said in a statement. .
“Today’s ruling makes it clear: No one is above the law.”
Trump’s attorney in the case, Alina Habba, in a statement said he would appeal the contempt finding.
“We respectfully disagree with the court’s decision,” Habba said. “All the documents in response to the subpoena were presented to the attorney general many months ago. The only issue the attorney general raised at today’s hearing was with an affidavit filed. copy the form authorized by the attorney general.”
“This doesn’t even meet the standard of a contempt petition and so we plan to appeal,” she said.
Habba told Engoron during Monday’s hearing that Trump did not deserve contempt, saying the Trump Organization was “on schedule” when it came to delivering documents sought by the attorney general.
Habba also called Democrat James’ investigation “a political crusade,” while also criticizing Republican Trump’s investigation.
Last week, Habba said in a legal filing that finding records found that Trump “does not possess any material that responds to the Subpoena and that all materials capable of responding are in the possession, custody, or control of the Trump Organization.”
Anti-Trump protesters gather outside the New York County Supreme Court in New York City, U.S., April 25, 2022.
David Dee Delgado | Reuters
James asked Engoron on April 7 to hold Trump in contempt of court, saying the former president had failed to meet a March 31 deadline to provide investigators with her documents under summons. Trump received a nearly one-month extension from the original deadline for that subpoena.
“The judge’s order is clear: Donald J. Trump must comply with our subpoena and turn over relevant documents to my office,” James said in a statement.
“Instead of following a court order, Mr. Trump is trying to evade it. We are seeking immediate court intervention because no one is above the law.”
Trump is appealing another Engoron order that he answer questions under oath by James’ investigators.
– Additional reporting by Kevin Breuninger
