Donald Trumphas been ordered to pay $354.9 million in penalties following a lengthy civil fraud trial that tore into his finances.
Judge Arthur Engoron filed the92-page rulingon Friday, which also barred the former president from serving as an officer or director of any New York corporations or legal entities for three years, and restricted him and the Trump Organization from applying for loans from New York-chartered financial institutions during the same time frame.
The ruling comes just three weeks after a New York juryordered Trump to pay $83.3 millionin damages to formerEllecolumnistE. Jean Carrollfor defamatory statements he made about her in 2019.
Shannon Stapleton-Pool/Getty
In addition to penalizing Trump on Friday, Engoron demanded more than $4 million each from his adult sons,Donald Jr.andEric— who are barred from holding top leadership positions at New York businesses for two years — and $1 million from ex-Trump Organization CFOAllen Weisselberg, who cannot hold an officer or director position for three years and is permanently barred from having financial control over a New York business.
In September, Engoronruled that Trump committed fraudwhile building his real estate empire, with the subsequent trial serving to determine his punishment.
Donald Trump arrives for the final day of his civil trial on Jan. 11, 2024.Michael M. Santiago/Getty
Michael M. Santiago/Getty
James' office claimed in a press release that “from 2011-2021, Mr. Trump and the Trump Organization knowingly and intentionally created more than 200 false and misleading valuations of assets on his annual Statements of Financial Condition to defraud financial institutions.”
The attorney general sought to have Trump fined at least $370 million in penalties and restricted from doing business in the state.
New York Attorney General Letitia James attends closing arguments in Donald Trump’s civil trial on Jan. 11, 2024.Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images/Bloomberg via Getty
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images/Bloomberg via Getty
Since leaving office in 2021, the former president has been mired ina number of legal issues and investigationson various fronts, including into his political conduct and business affairs.
Four of those investigationshave led to indictments— the first one making himthe only U.S. president to face criminal charges, and the next two further distinguishing him as the only president to face federal charges.
Still, Trump — who hopes to return to the White House in 2025 — is polling well among Republican voters and appears the front runner to earn the party’s presidential nomination in July.
source: people.com
