Donald Trump has launched a scathing attack on New York Attorney General Letitia James as a deadline to post $464 million in his civil-fraud case in the state approaches.
The former president has until Monday either to put up the cash in full or to secure a bond before James can start seizing his property.
New York Judge Arthur Engoron found Trump and some of his business associates had illegitimately inflated the value of his assets to obtain more favorable terms from lenders and insurers. In February, Engoron ordered the former president to pay roughly $355 million in penalties for fraud, plus interest. With this, the payment exceeds $464 million. Trump has always denied any wrongdoing and will appeal the ruling.
Newsweek has reached out to Trump’s team and the New York attorney general’s office via email out of hours.
In a post on his Truth Social platform early Friday morning, the former president raged against the “crazy” award and attacked James and Engoron.
Trump wrote: “THE NEW YORK A.G. USED A STATUTE TO GO AFTER ME THAT HAS NEVER BEEN USED BEFORE, NOT ONCE, FOR SUCH A PURPOSE. IT, IN AND OF ITSELF, IS SOOO UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND UNFAIR.
“UNDER THIS STATUTE, I GET NO JURY AND HAVE NO RIGHTS. All DECISIONS AND RIGHTS ARE GIVEN TO, IN THIS CASE, A CORRUPT, TRUMP HATING JUDGE, WHO CAME UP WITH A CRAZY, OUT OF THIN AIR AWARD, IN ORDER TO DAMAGE ME POLITICALLY, AND NOT ALLOW ME TO USE ANY OF THE LARGE AMOUNT OF CASH I HAVE BUILT UP OVER THE YEARS, THROUGH HARD WORK, INSIGHT, INSTINCT, AND DILIGENCE, ON MY POLITICAL CAMPAIGN FOR PRESIDENT.”
HANNON STAPLETON/POOL/AFP/GETTY
Trump added: “THAT IS JUST WHAT CROOKED JOE BIDEN WANTED THIS POLITICAL HACK, COUPLED WITH A CORRUPT AND RACIST ATTORNEY GENERAL, TO DO. I DID NOTHING WRONG! THIS IS SIMPLY A “TAKING.
“MUCH LIKE WHAT IS DONE IN COMMUNIST COUNTRIES, AND WILL LEAVE AN IRREPARABLE STAIN ON NEW YORK STATE AND ITS JUDICIAL SYSTEM. IT IS TOTALLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL, INCLUDING THE HARSH GAG ORDER IMPOSED. THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS WAS ALREADY RULED ON, FOR ME!”
Trump’s legal team said on Monday that he had faced “insurmountable difficulties” in trying to raise the bond.
His properties, including Trump Tower and a number of his golf courses, could be seized, unless he can find a solution over the weekend.
A document from the attorney general’s office that was previously reviewed by Newsweek lists Trump’s properties that had “fraudulent” and “misleading” values. The assets that could end up being seized are:
- Trump Park Avenue, New York, N.Y.
- Trump Tower, New York, N.Y.
- 40 Wall Street, New York, N.Y.
- Seven Springs, Westchester County, N.Y.
- Trump International Hotel and Tower, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Mar-a-Lago, Palm Beach, Florida
- Trump National Golf Club Westchester, Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.
- Trump National Golf Club Charlotte, Mooresville, North Carolina
- Trump National Golf Club Colts Neck, Colts Neck, New Jersey
- Trump National Golf Club, Washington, D.C., Sterling, Virginia
- Trump National Golf Club Hudson Valley, Hopewell Junction, N.Y.
- Trump National Golf Club Jupiter, Jupiter, Florida
- Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles, Rancho Palos Verdes, California
- Trump National Golf Club Philadelphia, Pine Hill, New Jersey
- Trump International Golf Links Scotland (Aberdeen)
- Trump International Golf Links Scotland (Turnberry)
James previously said in an interview with ABC News in February that she has no problem going after Trump’s property. “If he does not have funds to pay off the judgment, then we will seek judgment enforcement mechanisms in court, and we will ask the judge to seize his assets,” James added.
Earlier this month, she registered the state’s $454 million judgment in Westchester County, according to a county online database.
The March 6 move could make it easier to seize the 140-acre Trump National Golf Club Westchester and Seven Springs estate, which Trump owns in the New York City suburb.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.