A New York judge has found former President Donald Trump in contempt of court for failing to adequately respond to a subpoena issued by the state’s attorney general as part of a civil investigation into his business dealings.
Judge Arthur Engoron on Monday ordered Trump to pay a fine of $10,000 per day.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, had asked the court to hold Trump in contempt after he missed a March 31 court-imposed deadline to turn over documents. Trump, a Republican, has been fighting James in court over her investigation, which he has called a politically motivated “witch hunt.”
Trump spokespeople did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
#BREAKING: In a major victory, a court has ruled in our favor to hold Donald Trump in contempt of court.
— NY AG James (@NewYorkStateAG) April 25, 2022
Donald Trump must pay $10,000 per day for every day that he continues to defy the court's order to turn over documents to my office. https://t.co/AFAPPrnce4
ORIGINAL STORY: APRIL 7, 2022
New York’s attorney general asked a court Thursday to hold former President Donald Trump in contempt and fine him $10,000 per day for failing to comply with a subpoena for documents in her ongoing civil investigation into his business practices.
Attorney General Letitia James argued in court papers that Trump should be fined “a sum sufficient to coerce his compliance” after he missed a March 31 court-imposed deadline to turn over the documents.
Trump is in the process of appealing a February court ruling forcing him to answer questions under oath in the civil investigation but has not appealed a ruling establishing the deadline for him to provide documents, James said.
A message seeking comment was left with Trump's lawyer.
James, a Democrat, has said that her investigation into the Republican former president's business practices uncovered evidence that he may have misstated the value of assets like golf courses and skyscrapers on financial statements for more than a decade.
Her office has said it is seeking Trump's testimony and documents as it works to determine whether the misrepresented values shown to lenders, taxing authorities and other business interests constituted fraud and, if so, who committed that fraud.
Last week, in a related matter, a judge ordered weekly progress reports from a digital forensics company that Trump's company, the Trump Organization, hired to provide evidence to James’ office, which had raised concerns that the process was playing out slower than expected. The company must turn over all requested evidence by April 22, the judge said.
Meanwhile, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg says a criminal investigation into Trump and his business practices is continuing despite a recent shakeup in the probe’s leadership.
Bragg denied Thursday that the three-year investigation was winding down or that a grand jury term expiring this month would impede his office’s ability to bring charges.
The district attorney said he couldn’t discuss details of the probe but pledged to publicly disclose findings when it’s over.
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