New York Prosecutors Push Back on Trump’s Appeal in $464 Million Fraud Case

This week, New York prosecutors strongly rebuffed former President Donald Trump’s efforts to avoid paying $464 million in fraud damages, according to court records. Attorney General Letitia James’ office filed a 168-page argument with the New York Court of Appeals on Wednesday, outlining why they believe Trump’s appeal in the civil fraud case lacks merit.

“For years, the Trump Organization and its top executives engaged in a fraudulent and illegal scheme to misleadingly inflate the net worth of defendant Donald J. Trump,” James’ legal team asserted in the filing. The prosecutors argued that Trump’s defense does not effectively dispute the deceptive practices used to inflate his assets’ values. Instead, they claim, Trump’s appeal is based on “speculative and unsupported contentions.”

The appeal challenges a landmark ruling by Justice Arthur Engoron, who in 2023 found Trump liable for fraud and ordered him to pay the substantial sum after a trial. The appeal is scheduled to be heard by the First Department appellate division on September 26, with the case unlikely to conclude before the 2024 presidential election.

Trump, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing, posted a $175 million bond earlier this year and continues to argue that the judgment is unconstitutional, claiming that no one was harmed by the alleged fraud. However, the New York Attorney General’s office dismissed this argument, emphasizing that the question of harm is irrelevant to the case.

In their filing, the prosecutors reiterated that Trump had inflated his assets’ values over the years to deceive lenders and investors. They stressed that the law does not require evidence of reliance or victims’ losses—elements typically needed in common-law fraud cases. Instead, they argued, one of the primary purposes of § 63(12) of the Executive Law is to protect the integrity of New York’s commercial markets by stopping fraudulent practices before they result in financial losses or broader public harm.

In simpler terms, the prosecutors concluded that “Defendants are wrong on the law,” underscoring their confidence that Trump’s appeal will not hold up under scrutiny. As the legal battle continues, the case remains a significant point of contention in Trump’s ongoing legal challenges.