New York [US], February 18: Former US president Donald Trump has been ordered to pay a fine of more than $350mn in a New York civil fraud trial and is barred for three years from running a business in the state, Judge Arthur Engoron ruled on Friday.
Trump's sons Eric and Donald Jr must each pay a fine of around $4mn and are not allowed to run a company in the state for two years. "Their complete lack of contrition and remorse borders on pathological," Engoron wrote in the order, referring to Trump and his sons.
The judgement is a "crushing defeat" for Trump and the fine could "wipe out his entire stockpile of cash," commented the New York Times. Trump's lawyers have announced their intention to appeal.
Political beliefs and the venue of the proceedings, not the facts, had determined the outcome of the trial, Donald Trump Jr criticized after the decision on the online platform X. New York City is considered liberal and usually votes predominantly Democrat.
The civil trial centred on the future of the 77-year-old's business empire. New York Attorney General Letitia James accused Trump, his sons and employees of manipulating the value of the Trump organization for years in order to obtain cheaper loans and insurance contracts. Friday's ruling was not a case of guilt or innocence as Engoron had already determined Trump's guilt. The ruling was to determine what the former president must pay.
Since it was a civil trial, there was no threat of a prison sentence or direct consequences for Trump's bid for the presidency.
Source: Qatar Tribune
