Former President Donald Trump, along with his adult sons and two former Trump Organization officials, have taken steps to challenge the recent $464 million judgment against them in the New York attorney general’s civil fraud case.
The Trumps officially filed a notice of appeal with the court on Monday, swiftly following Judge Arthur Engoron’s formalization of the judgment. This significant sum includes a personal liability of $454 million, encompassing interest payments.
In their appeal filing, the attorneys outlined their intention to contest not only the financial judgment but also the accompanying penalties, such as the prohibition on the Trumps serving as officers of New York corporations for a specified duration. Their appeal aims to scrutinize whether the judge may have made legal or factual errors, acted beyond his jurisdiction, or abused discretion.
Questions linger regarding how Trump intends to finance the appeal process, particularly the substantial sum required. Trump will need to either furnish cash or post a bond covering the $355 million principal, along with an estimated $100 million in accrued interest. Additionally, his sons face individual obligations, each ordered to reimburse over $4 million in gains obtained through the fraudulent activities.
The signed judgment by Engoron was officially entered into the court docket last Friday, following his ruling that held Trump, Donald Trump Jr., and Eric Trump accountable for fraud in response to the civil lawsuit initiated by New York Attorney General Letitia James.
Despite Trump’s legal team’s request for a 30-day delay in enforcing the judgment, arguing for an orderly process given its magnitude, the judge promptly denied the request, citing a lack of justification or explanation provided. This decision indicates the court’s commitment to uphold the ruling without unnecessary delay.
