The New York State Attorney General made the announcement in an interview with ABC News.
Four days after a judge ordered former President Donald Trump to pay $354 million in a civil fraud case, New York Attorney General Letitia James told ABC News that the former president had no cash to cover the fraud case. He said he was prepared to seize the property if he could not find it. Are you okay.
“If we don't have the funds to pay off the judgment, we're going to ask the court for a mechanism to enforce the judgment, and we're going to ask the judge to seize the assets,” James said in an interview with ABC News' Aaron Katasky.
Trump was sentenced Friday to a $354.8 million fine and about $100 million in prejudgment interest after Judge Arthur Engoron ruled he had inflated his net worth to obtain more favorable loan terms. .
The former president has denied all wrongdoing and said he will appeal.
James said he was “very confident” in the strength of his case in the appellate court and would not seize Trump's assets if the former president cannot locate them. He reiterated that he would not hesitate to do so, naming the skyscraper at 40 Wall Street that President Trump owned. Cash to cover court-ordered disgorgement.
“We are prepared to make sure judgments are paid to New Yorkers. Yes, I look at 40 Wall Streets every day,” James said of the standard for collecting judgments in civil cases. He talked about the court process.
James directly contradicted Trump's claim that there were no victims in the incident, instead saying his case was essential to ensuring that financial markets treated New Yorkers fairly. .
“Financial fraud is not a victimless crime. He pulled off this massive fraud. Far from a simple mistake or slight oversight, the variations are greatly exaggerated and the scope of the fraud is astonishing.” It was something,” James said. “If the average New Yorker went to a bank and submitted false documents, the government would throw the book at them, and the same should be true for a former president.”
Mr. James also rejected Mr. Trump's claims that the incident would prompt a massive exodus of business activity from New York.
“The last thing we saw is that tourism is booming. Wall Street is doing well,” James said.
Trump lost two civil lawsuits against columnist E. Jean Carroll, was charged with Georgia election interference by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, and also lost a lawsuit against James. , the New York AG ended the interview with his thoughts on Trump's lawsuit.
“Someone once told me that if you want something done, get a woman to do it,” James said.
