Current:Home > InvestCourt rejects Donald Trump’s bid to delay trial in wake of fraud ruling that threatens his business -Wealth Pursuit Network
Court rejects Donald Trump’s bid to delay trial in wake of fraud ruling that threatens his business
View
Date:2025-04-13 19:57:35
NEW YORK (AP) — An appeals court Thursday rejected Donald Trump’s bid to delay a civil trial in a lawsuit brought by New York’s attorney general, allowing the case to proceed days after a judge ruled the former president committed years of fraud and stripped him of some companies as punishment.
The decision, by the state’s intermediate appellate court, clears the way for Judge Arthur Engoron to preside over a non-jury trial starting Oct. 2 in Manhattan in New York Attorney General Letitia James’ civil lawsuit.
Trump is listed among dozens of possible witnesses, setting up a potential courtroom showdown with the judge. The fraud ruling Tuesday threatens to upend his real estate empire and force him to give up prized New York properties such as Trump Tower, a Wall Street office building, golf courses and a suburban estate.
Trump has denied wrongdoing, arguing that some of his assets are worth far more than what’s listed on annual financial statements that Engoron said he used to secure loans and make deals. Trump has argued that the statements have disclaimers that absolve him of liability. His lawyers have said they would appeal.
Messages seeking comment were left Thursday with Trump’s lawyers and James’ office.
In New York “these cases take many years to get to trial,” Trump wrote Wednesday in a post on his Truth Social platform that appeared to conflate several of his legal foes. “My Political Witch Hunt case is actually scheduled to start on Monday. Nobody can believe it? This is a ‘Railroading’ job, pushed hard by the Radical Left DOJ for purposing Election Interference. A very SAD time for New York State, and America!”
Trump’s lawyers had sought the trial delay prior to Engoron’s ruling, alleging he abused his authority and hindered their preparations by failing to comply with a June appeals court order that he narrow the scope of the trial based on the statute of limitations.
They filed a lawsuit against Engoron on Sept. 14 under a provision of state law known as Article 78, which allows people to challenge some judicial authority, and asked that the trial be postponed until that matter was resolved.
An appeals court judge, David Friedman, granted an interim stay of the trial while the full appeals court considered the lawsuit on an expedited basis. Thursday’s ruling lifted the stay, allowing the trial to proceed as scheduled. Through a court lawyer, Engoron declined to participate in the appeals court process.
Engoron ruled Tuesday that Trump and his company, the Trump Organization, defrauded banks, insurers and others with annual financial statements that massively overvalued his assets and exaggerated his wealth. Engoron ordered some of Trump’s companies removed from his control and dissolved. James alleges Trump boosted his net worth by as much as $3.6 billion.
After the ruling, Trump’s lawyers again urged the appeals court to delay the trial.
They argued in court papers that Engoron showed in his 35-page decision that he was intent on defying the appeals court by ignoring the statute of limitations issue. Engoron refused to dismiss any claims and based his fraud ruling partly on stale allegations that should’ve been thrown out, Trump lawyer Clifford Robert said.
Engoron’s fraud ruling, in a phase of the case known as summary judgment, resolved the key claim in James’ lawsuit, but six others remain. They include allegations of conspiracy, falsifying business records and insurance fraud. The judge will also decide on James’ request for $250 million in penalties.
James’ office argued Trump’s lawsuit against Engoron was a “brazen and meritless attempt” to usurp his authority and that any delay “would likely wreak havoc on the trial schedule” and could cause conflicts with Trump’s four pending criminal cases.
The civil trial is the culmination of a yearslong investigation by James’ office that saw Trump questioned under oath and millions of pages of documents change hands. Engoron has said it could take three months.
veryGood! (93744)
Related
- Hackers hit Rhode Island benefits system in major cyberattack. Personal data could be released soon
- In Mexico, piñatas are not just child’s play. They’re a 400-year-old tradition
- Pistons fall to Nets, match NBA single-season record with 26th consecutive loss
- Prosecutors in Idaho request summer trial dates for man accused of killing 4 university students
- Taylor Swift makes surprise visit to Kansas City children’s hospital
- Contrary to politicians’ claims, offshore wind farms don’t kill whales. Here’s what to know.
- Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence clears concussion protocol, likely to start vs. Buccaneers
- British Teen Alex Batty Breaks His Silence After Disappearing for 6 Years
- Head of the Federal Aviation Administration to resign, allowing Trump to pick his successor
- A Detroit man turned to strangers to bring Christmas joy to a neighbor reeling from tragedy
Ranking
- 'No Good Deed': Who's the killer in the Netflix comedy? And will there be a Season 2?
- Charlie Sheen assaulted in Malibu home by woman with a weapon, deputies say
- Why Coco Austin Calls Daughter Chanel Her Little Stalker
- 2023 was a year of big anniversaries
- The city of Chicago is ordered to pay nearly $80M for a police chase that killed a 10
- Are banks, post offices, UPS, FedEx open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2023?
- Biden signs executive order targeting financial facilitators of Russian defense industry
- Where to watch 'Elf' movie this Christmas: Streaming info, TV channel, cast
Recommendation
Scoot flight from Singapore to Wuhan turns back after 'technical issue' detected
Teen charged in shooting that wounded 2 in downtown Cleveland square after tree lighting ceremony
NFL denies Eagles security chief DiSandro’s appeal of fine, sideline ban, AP source says
Buy less, donate more — how American families can increase charitable giving during the holiday season
Small twin
New York governor vetoes bill that would ban noncompete agreements
Lions win division for first time in 30 years, claiming franchise's first NFC North title
How Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas Are Celebrating the Holidays Amid Their Divorce