Donald Trump’s legal team is planning to request a pause in his ongoing $250 million business fraud trial and seek a stay order from a New York appeals court. The trial, presided over by Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron, has reached a critical juncture, with the judge’s recent order potentially jeopardizing Trump’s company. However, the scope of the appeal has not been fully disclosed, leading to tensions between Trump’s lawyers and the New York Attorney General’s Office.
Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit accusing Donald Trump, his adult sons, the Trump Organization, and company executives of misleading lenders and obtaining favorable loan terms and tax benefits. The lawsuit alleges that the defendants artificially inflated real estate property values, effectively misrepresenting Trump’s net worth. The trial focuses on the six remaining claims in the lawsuit, with Judge Engoron issuing a summary judgment last month, affirming James’ top claim of business fraud.
Trump’s attorney, Christopher Kise, informed Judge Engoron of their intention to seek a temporary halt in the trial and a stay order related to dissolving Trump’s corporate entities. However, the specific details of the appeal scheduled for Friday remain undisclosed. The lack of transparency regarding the appeal’s scope has raised concerns from Andrew Amer, the lawyer representing the Attorney General’s Office, who argued that they should receive 24-hour advance notice of any appeal.
Judge Engoron’s ruling included the cancellation of the business certificates held by the defendants and the appointment of an independent receiver to oversee the dissolution of the Trump corporate entities. In response, Engoron issued further orders that seemingly pave the way for the sale of these businesses. Additionally, the defendants were instructed to inform an independent monitor for the Trump Organization about the formation or acquisition of any new entities to hold the assets from the businesses that are set to be dissolved.
Donald Trump attended the trial for the first two and a half days, but later left, expressing frustration that the legal proceedings were interfering with his Republican presidential primary campaign. Although his presence is not mandatory throughout the trial, there remains a possibility that he may be called to testify at a later stage. The trial is expected to continue until late December, extending the legal battle between Trump and the Attorney General’s Office.
As the trial progresses, the legal battle between Donald Trump and the New York Attorney General’s Office intensifies. The request for a pause and stay order demonstrates Trump’s determination to challenge the judge’s ruling and protect his company’s interests. The outcome of the appeal and the subsequent course of the trial will undoubtedly have far-reaching implications not only for Trump and his business entities but also for the broader legal landscape. Only time will tell how this high-stakes legal showdown will ultimately unfold.
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