- Appeals court ruled Trump liable for fraud but canceled $500m fine, calling it excessive.
- Non-financial penalties, including business bans, remain in place.
- Attorney General to appeal the fine reduction to the state’s highest court.
A New York appeals court has overturned a $500 million fine earlier imposed on former US President Donald Trump in a civil fraud case, though it upheld that he was indeed guilty of fraud.
According to reports retrieved by EKO HOT BLOG, the appellate court ruled that while Trump committed fraud by inflating the value of his company’s assets to secure loans, the penalty imposed was excessive and potentially unconstitutional. Originally, Judge Arthur Engoron had ordered Trump to pay $355 million, but with interest, the amount climbed to over $500 million.
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The panel of five judges issued a 323-page decision, showing some internal disagreement. While they all agreed Trump committed fraud, they differed on whether the lawsuit brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James should have proceeded in its original form. Despite this, the non-financial penalties—including barring Trump from leading any New York-based company or seeking loans in the state for three years—remain in effect.
One of the justices, Peter Moulton, noted that although harm was done, it wasn’t severe enough to justify such a large fine. He added that “voters have already delivered a verdict” on Trump’s political future, and that the court’s decision “removes efforts to collapse his business empire.”
Trump reacted to the decision with satisfaction, calling it a “total victory” and describing the original fine as “unlawful and politically motivated.” He added, “I respect the court for having the courage to correct this injustice, which has hurt businesses across New York State.”
His son, Eric Trump, also celebrated the outcome, saying, “After five years of hardship, justice has been done.”
On the other hand, the Attorney General’s office described the ruling as a partial win, emphasising that the court maintained the finding of fraud. The office confirmed it would challenge the reduction of the fine at the state’s highest court.
“This ruling once again confirms that Trump and his company broke the law,” the statement said. “History will remember this.”
Legal experts have described the ruling as a way for the appellate court to shift the final decision to a higher court without completely dismissing the case. One legal analyst remarked that this judgment delays a final resolution, adding, “The real outcome will be decided at the Court of Appeals.”
The original fraud trial revealed that Trump exaggerated the size and value of his assets, including falsely claiming his penthouse was nearly three times bigger than it actually was. Trump has long maintained that the case was politically driven by Democratic Attorney General Letitia James.
A senior New York legal practitioner noted the unusually lengthy nature of the ruling, stating, “If this was any other businessman, not Donald Trump, it’s unlikely the decision would have run over 300 pages.”
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