Donald Trump’s bid to end $10,000 daily contempt fine denied by judge
Former President Donald Trump’s request to end a contempt-of-court finding with a $10,000 daily fine has been denied by a New York judge.
Trump in a sworn affidavit on Friday said he does not possess any of the documents subpoenaed by the New York Attorney General’s Office in its probe into the Trump Organization’s finances.
‘To the best of my knowledge, (i) I do not have any of the documents requested in the subpoena dated December 1, 2021 in my personal possession; and (ii) if there are any documents responsive to the subpoena I believe they would be in the possession or custody of the Trump Organization,’ states Trump’s affidavit.
The document with the affidavit included a detailed explanation of the measures that Trump’s lawyer took to search for the papers requested in the investigation.
‘At all relevant times, I have authorized, and continue to authorize, the release of a responsive document to the Office of the Attorney General,’ Trump said in the affidavit.
But Judge Arthur Engoron in New York state court in Manhattan rejected Trump’s motion to purge the contempt finding – as well as the accompanying fine.
‘I am surprised he doesn’t seem to have any documents, they’re all with the organization,’ Engoron said.
The judge told Trump’s attorney Alina Habba: ‘I will consider your request to terminate the fine. But if you don’t hear from me, the clock is still ticking.’
New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office issued the subpoena as part of its civil investigation into whether the Trump Organization gave fraudulent information to tax officials, borrowers and lenders. James claims she has evidence that Trump’s company provided misleading information to obtain tax breaks and favorable loans.
In response to Engoron’s ruling, Habba stated: ‘This Court has improperly held my client in contempt for a violation that he did not commit solely because the OAG declared it “insufficient” without any basis.
‘We will zealously prosecute our appeal of the Court’s improper application of both law and fact.’
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