Donald Trump’s appeal to dismiss a civil lawsuit filed by New York State Attorney General Letitia James and accusing him, his family business, and three of his children of significant fraud received skeptical responses from the Appellate Division in Manhattan on Tuesday, Your Content has learned.
In January, a lower court ruling had allowed James to sue, claiming that Trump had deceived lenders and insurers between 2011 and 2021 regarding asset values at the Trump Organization and his personal net worth.
Seeking damages of at least $250 million and aiming to prevent the Trumps from conducting business in New York, James named Donald Jr., Eric, and Ivanka as defendants.
During the appeal, Christopher Kise, Trump’s lawyer, argued that James had filed the lawsuit too late and lacked the authority to oversee legitimate transactions.
However, some judges expressed belief in James’s role and indicated that the determination of fraud could be made during the upcoming trial scheduled for October 2.
Justice Saliann Scarpulla challenged Kise’s argument, stating, “You keep saying that because the two parties to the alleged fraud aren’t complaining of it, therefore the AG can’t address it. That is the argument that I’m having difficulty accepting.”
James’s attorney, Judith Vale, emphasized the importance of oversight, warning that fraudulent activities in real estate, insurance, and banking markets impose costs on honest participants.
Notably, Ivanka Trump’s lawyer, Bennet Moskowitz, presented arguments suggesting that James may have sued her after the appropriate timeframe.
The appeals court refrained from announcing a specific date for their ruling.
This case is separate from the criminal indictment by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, which includes 34 counts against Trump for hush money payments to a porn star.
Trump, who has pleaded not guilty, has referred to the investigations by James and Bragg, both Democrats, as a “witch hunt.”
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