Staff Reports
In a major win for former President Donald Trump, a New York appeals court judge has halted the scheduled fraud trial brought against him by New York Attorney General Letitia James. The trial, set to begin on October 2nd, has been put on hold as the judge referred the matter to a five-judge panel, which is expected to issue a ruling by the end of September. In addition, the full appeals court has been instructed to consider a lawsuit that President Trump filed against the trial judge, Arthur Engoron.
President Trump’s lawyers had argued that Judge Engoron’s refusal to grant a three-week trial delay was “completely without merit.” They also requested that the trial be paused until the judge rules on the statute of limitations regarding certain claims in James’s lawsuit. The lawsuit, filed by James, alleges that Trump defrauded banks and other entities by inflating the value of his assets. It seeks $250 million in penalties and a ban on Trump doing business in New York.
Judge Halts New York Attorney General’s Fraud Trial Against Trumphttps://t.co/DyomU3YScV
— Just.ReyXX?????✝️ (@JustReyXX) September 16, 2023
The lawsuit has been a political flashpoint, with Trump’s lawyers accusing James of mounting a politically motivated attack. In April, during sworn testimony for the lawsuit, Trump dismissed the claims, stating that his financial statements should not be taken seriously. He questioned why the banks were suing on behalf of banks, stating, “It’s crazy. The whole case is crazy.”
While James’s office expressed confidence in their case and readiness for trial, these recent developments have dealt a blow to her attempts to hold Trump accountable. It remains to be seen how the appeals court and the five-judge panel will rule, but for now, it’s a temporary win for Trump and a setback for James. As the legal battles continue, one thing is certain: the political drama surrounding Trump and his legal woes shows no sign of letting up.
