New York Attorney General Letitia James took the spotlight at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) on Thursday morning, defending her office’s $454 million fraud judgment against former President Donald Trump.
Speaking at a breakfast event, James expressed confidence that the judgment would hold, despite recent efforts by Trump’s legal team to appeal the ruling.
During her address, James criticized Trump’s legal strategy, describing it as a rehash of arguments that the courts have already dismissed.
“So I’m confident the judgment will be upheld,” James told the Washington Examiner.
The comments came just hours after James’s office filed a brief urging an appeals court to maintain the judgment handed down by New York Judge Arthur Engoron in February.
The ruling found Trump and his business associates liable for civil fraud, imposed a multimillion-dollar fine, restricted Trump’s ability to conduct business in New York, and placed the Trump Organization under court supervision for three years.
Assistant Solicitor General Daniel S. Magy emphasized in the recent filing that Trump and his executives engaged in “deceptive strategies” to inflate the former president’s assets. In contrast,
Trump’s attorneys argue that the judgment—now exceeding $485 million due to accrued interest—represents an “unauthorized, unprecedented power grab,” maintaining there were “no victims and no losses” from the Trump Organization’s business deals.
The case has drawn varied reactions, from Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary pledging to halt investments in New York, to former Governor Andrew Cuomo criticizing the lawsuit as overreach.
Despite such opinions, James remains steadfast. In response to Trump’s claims that New York is no longer business-friendly, she pointed to the stock market’s record highs as evidence that the state’s economy remains strong.
The Appellate Division is set to hear oral arguments on September 26, just weeks before the election. If the appeals court rules against Trump, he could escalate the case to New York’s highest court. A decision is expected before Election Day.
