Former President Donald Trump made explosive statements in a passionate reaction to New York Judge Arthur Engoron’s ruling to impose a $355 million fine on him and prohibit him from overseeing businesses in the state for three years after his civil fraud trial. Trump criticized Engoron as a “clubhouse politician” and stood up for the successful company he established, stating to Fox News Digital that the decision is yet another instance of Democrats attempting to hinder him, but asserting that they will not prevail.
The ruling was a result of Attorney General Letitia James’ civil fraud lawsuit against Trump, accusing him of inflating his assets and engaging in fraudulent activities.
“A crooked New York judge working with the very corrupt attorney general of New York State, who ran on the basis of ‘I will get Trump’ before knowing me — before even knowing anything about me — just ruled that I have to pay a fine of $355 million based on absolutely nothing,” Trump told Fox News Digital. “No victims. No damages. Great financial statements, with full disclaimer clauses, only success.”
He added that the “banks and insurance companies were thrilled — they made nothing but money. No defaults, no nothing at a time when many banks are losing money.”
“This is a witch hunt where the judge ruled against me before he even saw the case,” Trump said, noting that Engoron “strongly stated that said Mar-a-Lago was worth $18 million- when it is worth anywhere from 50 to 100 times more than that.”
Fox News Digital added:
“In September, Engoron ruled that Trump and the Trump Organization had committed fraud while building a real estate empire by deceiving banks, insurers and others by overvaluing his assets and exaggerating his net worth on paperwork used in making deals and securing financing.”
Trump further added that Engoron has “already been overturned on this case four times — a record!”
“I built a great company, and now this whacked-out clubhouse politician judge bars me for three years,” Trump said, adding that the case “should have gone to the commercial division,” but said Engoron “wouldn’t allow it to happen.”
Trump said that Engoron “is a political hack working in conjunction with a crooked attorney general in the greatest case of election interference anyone has ever seen in this country.”
In his 92-page decision, Engoron stated that Trump seldom responded directly to questions asked of him, which he argued damaged his trustworthiness. However, Trump denied this assertion.
“I answered the questions very directly, and the financial statements speak for themselves — they are fantastic financial statements,” he said.
Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump have also been prohibited by the judge from assuming the role of an officer or director in any New York corporation or legal entity for a duration of two years.
“This country is becoming worse than Russia ever was,” Trump added.
“They are doing this because I am beating Biden in the polls by so much,” Trump told the outlet. “They are trying to stop me, but they will not be successful.”
He noted further: “I’m fighting for America. I’m fighting for the people.”
Trump also responded on his Truth Social platform:
“This Election Interference and tyrannical Abuse of Power by a Crooked Judge and Crooked Attorney General cannot be tolerated. My case was already won in the Appellate Division, and more than 80% of the frivolous claims were wiped out. Yet, as I suspected, and in order to hurt me and the Republican Party politically, Crooked and Corrupt Judge Arthur Engoron ignored his loss at the Appellate Division, and came up with an outrageous $355 Million Dollar fine against me. Using a statute that has never been applied like this before, the Corrupt Judge conspired with the Crooked Attorney General, Letitia James, and punished a liquid and beautiful Corporate Empire that started in New York, and has been successful all around the world.”
