As New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office continues the probe into the Trump Organization and whether it fleeced borrowers, lenders and tax authorities, former President Donald Trump continues to push back.
However, his fight has already hit a significant roadblock.
On Monday, a judge issued a civil contempt order levying a $10,000 daily fine for failing to comply with a James; general subpoena for records linked to the investigation.
“Mr. Trump, I know you take your business seriously, and I take mine seriously, I hereby hold you in civil contempt and fine you $10,000 a day,” New York Supreme Court judge Arthur Engoron said in court.
Trump failed to provide the New York Attorney General with documents and testimony as part of her civil investigation.
Trump appealed the decision.
“This does not even come close to meeting the standard on a motion for contempt and, thus, we intend to appeal,” Alina Habba, one of Trump’s attorneys, told reporters.
James celebrated the order.
“The judge’s order was clear: Donald J. Trump is in contempt of court and must pay $10,000 a day until he complies with our subpoenas,” James said in a statement. “We’ve seen this playbook before, and it has never stopped our investigation of Mr. Trump and his organization. This time is no different.”
In December, James’ office revealed that she was seeking to question Trump under oath in a civil fraud investigation.
Trump then filed a lawsuit against James of abusing her investigatory powers to target her political adversaries and advance her career.
“Since taking office, she has tirelessly bombarded him, his family and his business, Trump Organization LLC, with unwarranted subpoenas in a bitter crusade to ‘take on’ the President,” the suit states. “Her mission is guided solely by political animus and a desire to harass, intimidate, and retaliate against a private citizen who she views as a political opponent,” it read.
