Judge orders Trump to pay more than $350 million in civil fraud case

Judge Arthur Engoron ordered former President Donald Trump to pay roughly $355 million as part of a civil fraud case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James.

James had alleged that Trump manipulated the value of his assets to secure favorable loan terms and lower insurance premiums. She had sought $370 million in penalties and an order barring Trump from serving as an officer in any New York corporation.

Engoron's order obliged her on the latter point and barred Trump from doing so for three years, though he did not dissolve the Trump Organization. He further imposed $4 million fines on Trump's two eldest sons, Donald Jr. and Eric.

Trump attorney Alina Habba called the verdict the  "a manifest injustice - plain and simple. It is the culmination of a multi-year, politically fueled witch hunt that was designed to 'take down Donald Trump,' before Letitia James ever stepped foot into the Attorney General's office. Countless hours of testimony proved that there was no wrongdoing, no crime, and no victim."

"Given the grave stakes, we trust that the Appellate Division will overturn this egregious verdict and end this relentless persecution against my clients," she went on. "Let me make one thing perfectly clear: this is not just about Donald Trump - if this decision stands, it will serve as a signal to every single American that New York is no longer open for business."

The trial concluded in January and a ruling had initially been expected by the end of that month, though the court later indicated it would come in "early to mid-February." The non-jury trial saw Trump frequently spar with the judge, whom he accused of bias against him. 

Ahead of the trial, Engoron ruled in summary judgement that Trump could be held liable for fraud, though the trial proceeded on other claims.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.