Former President Donald Trump was ordered Friday to pay nearly $355 million and barred from practicing business in New York by Judge Arthur Engoron. Trump broke his silence on the verdict with two statements Friday evening.
In his statement, Trump vehemently contested the ruling, asserting, “My case was already won in the Appellate Division, and more than 80% of the frivolous claims were wiped out. Yet, as I suspected, and in order to hurt me and the Republican Party politically, Crooked and Corrupt Judge Arthur Engoron ignored his loss at the Appellate Division and came up with an outrageous $355 million fine against me,” said Trump.
Trump went on to allege that “crooked” Attorney General Letitia James and Judge Engoron conspired against him, contending that they utilized a statute previously unapplied in civil fraud cases. According to Trump, this move “punished a liquid and beautiful Corporate Empire that started in New York and has been successful all around the world.”
“Racist, Corrupt A.G. Tish James has been obsessed with ‘Getting Trump’ for years and used Crooked New York State Judge Engoron to get an illegal, un-American judgment against me, my family, and my tremendous business,” said Trump.
NY House Republican Elise Stefanik echoed Trump’s sentiments, criticizing the verdict on X as politically motivated.
“James’ unethical behavior and political bias are why I filed a bar complaint against her with the Attorney Grievance Committee, asking them to disbar her,” said Stefanik. “This is just the latest example of the justice system being weaponized by extreme Democrats to try to stop President Trump from winning back the White House this November.”
Trump maintaned that there were no victims, only “satisfied” banks and insurance companies.
“There were no victims, and not one person testified there was any fraud,” said Trump.
Trump emphasized that his financial statements, as testified by witnesses, accurately represented his net worth, although they did not account for the value of the Trump brand, which he deemed his “most valuable asset.” He noted how one of his expert witnesses praised his financial statements as “among the best” he has ever seen.
“They are crazed lunatics who are destroying everything in their way. It all starts with Biden’s attacks on his political opponent!” said Trump.
The bankers involved in the loan transactions testified that the former president “was a highly sought-after ‘whale’ of a client with ‘one of the strongest personal balance sheets’ they had ever seen, and I was overqualified for the loans,” earning the bankers more than $100 million, according to Trump.
“This ‘case’ is over ever since the Appellate Division ended it on Statute of Limitations, also letting my daughter Ivanka out of this Witch Hunt,” Trump declared.
Trump further stated his intention to appeal the financial penalty and request that the appeals court suspend the restrictions on him and his sons from managing the company in New York. He faces a deadline of 30 days to either pay $355 million or secure a bond.
“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,” said Trump’s lawyer, Alina Habba, on X.
Habba continued, “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.”
“We cannot let injustice stand and will fight Crooked Joe Biden’s weaponized persecution at every step. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Trump concluded.
