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New York Attorney General’s Office has pushed back on a request from President-elect Donald Trump’s legal team to dismiss a $486 million civil fraud case against Trump.
Let’s bring you up to speed: Earlier this year, a New York court found President-Elect Donald Trump, the Trump Organization, and key executives guilty of engaging in persistent fraud by inflating the value of assets to secure favorable financial benefits, including loans and insurance terms. The ruling followed a civil trial initiated by New York Attorney General Letitia James in 2022, during which evidence demonstrated that Trump and his associates exaggerated his net worth over several years. The court ordered Trump to pay $450 million in fines and interest, a figure that has since grown to $486 million due to accruing interest. Trump appealed the verdict in February, and as part of the appeal process, the court reduced the bond he was required to post to $175 million to pause the judgment while the appellate proceedings continued.
What’s going on now: Shortly after winning the election, lawyers for President-Elect Trump submitted a request to New York Attorney General Letitia James to dismiss the civil fraud case that resulted in a $486 million judgment against him. Trump’s legal team, led by attorney John Sauer, argued that continuing the case would impose undue burdens on Trump’s ability to fulfill his presidential duties and hinder efforts to promote national unity. Citing constitutional concerns, Sauer likened the case to criminal proceedings against sitting presidents, which are often deferred to prevent interference with official responsibilities. He also noted that halting the case was necessary “for the health of the Republic” and urged the Attorney General to follow the lead of federal and state prosecutors who had dismissed or delayed other criminal cases against Trump.
Despite the request, The New York Attorney General’s Office rejected the request, with Deputy Solicitor General Judith Vale stating there was no legal or constitutional basis to dismiss the case. Vale emphasized that the civil case, unlike criminal prosecutions, does not impede a president’s ability to carry out official duties, mainly since the trial has already concluded and the appeal has been fully argued.
Additionally, Vale argued that actions taken by other prosecutors in unrelated criminal cases were irrelevant to the civil enforcement action and that the Attorney General’s office would not abandon its pursuit of accountability.
Two different views: This all comes as New York Attorney General Letitia James faces accusations from President-elect Donald Trump and his allies that her civil fraud case is politically motivated. Trump has labeled the lawsuit a “witch hunt,” claiming it is part of a broader effort by Democrats to discredit him and his family for political gain. His legal team has pointed to James’s previous public statements about holding Trump accountable as evidence of bias and argued that the case lacks legal merit.
Meanwhile, supporters of the case argue that it represents a legitimate effort to address fraudulent practices and uphold the rule of law. They point to the extensive evidence presented during the trial, demonstrating systematic inflation of Trump’s assets to secure favorable financial terms.
