Former President Donald Trump secured a brief respite in his civil fraud lawsuit on Friday when a New York court approved a delay in the cancellation of his business licenses within the state. As the frontrunner for the Republican nomination in the upcoming presidential race, Trump took action by filing an appeal on Wednesday to suspend his trial before the New York court. These hearings, conducted without a jury but with Trump’s personal presence, commenced on Monday after a surprising ruling from Judge Arthur Engoron late last month. Judge Engoron’s ruling found evidence of repeated fraud committed by the Trump Organization, resulting in the order to revoke the business licenses of Trump and his two adult sons, Don Jr. and Eric.
Temporary Victory for Trump
In a recent decision from an appeals court in New York, Judge Peter Moulton declined to halt the trial but did grant a stay on the “order directing the cancellation of business certificates.” This decision marks a temporary win for the former president, who now faces the potential dismantling of his real estate empire in light of Judge Engoron’s ruling in September.
During the proceedings on Friday, Judge Moulton heard arguments from Trump’s legal team and the attorneys representing New York Attorney General Letitia James. James seeks a $250 million judgment against Trump, accusing him of fraudulent business filings. Christopher Kise, one of Trump’s lawyers, stated in the courtroom, “This is everything owned or controlled by the defendant. Once you dissolve, you dissolve. It’s chaos. It’s chaos right now.”
Judy Vale, representing Letitia James, countered Kise’s arguments by stating, “There’s just absolutely no basis for an interim stay of a trial that’s already been going on for a week.”
Throughout the week, Trump spent nearly three days in the Manhattan court, engaging with both the press and the courtroom proceedings. On Wednesday, Letitia James responded to his court appearance by calling it “nothing more than a political stunt, a fundraising stop.” In response, Trump labeled the African American attorney general, a Democrat, as “corrupt” and “racist.” Letitia James reaffirmed her commitment to justice, asserting that “justice will prevail” when the trial resumes on Tuesday.
(This story has not been edited by Smartkhabrinews staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – AFP)