Court rejects Donald Trump’s bid to delay trial in wake of fraud ruling that threatens his business

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The appeals court on Thursday rejected Donald Trump’s request to postpone a civil trial in a lawsuit initiated by New York’s attorney general. This decision comes shortly after a judge’s ruling that found the former president culpable of years of fraud and resulted in the forfeiture of some of his businesses.

The ruling from the state’s intermediate appellate court now paves the way for Judge Arthur Engoron to oversee a non-jury trial set to commence in Manhattan on Monday. This trial is part of New York Attorney General Letitia James’ civil lawsuit, in which Trump is among the listed potential witnesses. This situation could potentially lead to a courtroom confrontation with the judge.

The fraud ruling handed down on Tuesday has significant implications for Trump’s real estate holdings, possibly requiring him to relinquish prized properties in New York, including Trump Tower, a Wall Street office building, golf courses, and a suburban estate. Trump maintains his innocence, contending that some of his assets are valued higher than what was indicated in annual financial statements, which, according to Engoron, he used to secure loans and make deals. Trump’s argument revolves around disclaimers in these statements that, in his view, absolve him of any liability. His legal team has expressed their intention to appeal the ruling.

Attempts to delay the trial were made by Trump’s lawyers even before Judge Engoron’s decision. They argued that the judge had abused his authority. On September 14, Trump’s lawyers filed a lawsuit against Engoron, alleging that he disregarded the law and impeded their preparations by not complying with a June appeals court order to narrow the trial’s scope based on the statute of limitations. This lawsuit was brought under Article 78, allowing challenges to certain judicial decisions, and it sought a postponement of the trial until the matter was resolved.

An appeals court judge, David Friedman, granted a temporary stay of the trial while the full appeals court considered the lawsuit on an expedited basis. The recent ruling has lifted this stay, allowing the trial to proceed as initially scheduled. However, the appeals court did not render a decision on the underlying complaints regarding Judge Engoron’s conduct. Engoron himself declined to participate in the appeals court process. Meanwhile, other proceedings related to the case continued while the panel deliberated on the delay.

In his summary judgment on Tuesday, Judge Engoron determined that Trump and the Trump Organization had defrauded banks, insurers, and others through annual financial statements that significantly inflated the value of Trump’s assets and overstated his wealth. Consequently, Engoron ordered the removal and dissolution of some of Trump’s companies. New York Attorney General Letitia James alleges that Trump exaggerated his net worth by as much as $3.6 billion.

While Engoron’s fraud ruling resolved the central claim in James’ lawsuit, six other allegations, including conspiracy, falsifying business records, and insurance fraud, are still pending. Additionally, the judge will decide on James’ request for $250 million in penalties.

James’ office has argued that Trump’s lawsuit against Engoron is a baseless attempt to undermine the judge’s authority, and any delay could disrupt the trial schedule and potentially conflict with Trump’s four pending criminal cases.

This civil trial represents the culmination of a lengthy investigation by James’ office, which included Trump’s deposition under oath and the exchange of millions of pages of documents. Judge Engoron has estimated that the trial could last up to three months. During a recent hearing, Trump’s lawyers sought clarification from Engoron regarding his ruling, which not only revoked Trump’s New York business licenses but also transferred control of some of his companies to a court-appointed receiver. At one point, Trump’s lawyer, Clifford Robert, questioned the necessity of the trial altogether since the judge had already ruled on the primary issue, prompting him to ponder, “So, I’m just, me, wondering: what’s the point?”

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More about fraud ruling

• Donald Trump’s bid to delay trial – Washington Post
• New York Attorney General Letitia James – Official Website
• Judge Arthur Engoron – Official Court Profile
• Article 78 – New York State Senate – Explanation of Article 78
• Summary judgment – Cornell Law School – Explanation of Summary Judgment
• Trump’s business empire – Forbes – Overview of Trump’s Business Interests
• Legal proceedings against Trump – The New York Times – Information on Trump’s Legal Challenges
• New York Attorney General’s investigation – The New York Times – Details on the Investigation
• Duration of the trial – ABC News – Information on the Expected Trial Length