A New York appeals court on Thursday denies Donald Trump’s request to postpone for his civil fraud trial delay for October 2. The former president had accused the trial judge of erroneously refusing to dismiss most of the case.
In a concise order, a five-judge panel from the appellate division, a mid-level appeals court in Manhattan, denied Trump’s motion to delay the trial. The panel also lifted a September 14 order by Justice David Friedman to pause the trial while considering Trump’s motion. Friedman was part of Thursday’s panel.
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Court Denies Trump’s Request for Trial Delay
The ruling came two days after state court Justice Arthur Engoron found that Trump and his family business consistently and fraudulently inflated his assets and net worth to secure better terms on loans and insurance. State Attorney General Letitia James sued Trump in September 2022, accusing him, his adult sons, the Trump Organization, and others of “staggering fraud” in their property valuations.
James is seeking at least $250 million in penalties, a ban against Trump and his sons Donald Jr and Eric from running businesses in New York, and a five-year commercial real estate ban against Trump and the Trump Organization.
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Response from Trump’s Lawyers
Lawyers for Trump and the other defendants were not immediately available for comment. James’ office had no immediate comment.
The case is unrelated to the four criminal indictments that Trump faces, including for attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Despite his legal troubles, Trump maintains a commanding lead for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
Trump sued Engoron on September 14, seeking to delay the trial and accusing him of ignoring a June ruling from the appeals court that, according to Trump, required gutting James’ case because many of her claims were too old.
Engoron’s decision on Tuesday showed that he believed the appeals court ruling had little effect on James’ case. The judge said the defendants were living in “a fantasy world, not the real world,” as they made up valuations for properties including Trump’s Mar-a-Lago compound in Florida and Trump Tower penthouse in Manhattan.
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Evidence Against Trump
Engoron found “conclusive evidence” that Trump had overstated his fortune by as much as $2.2 billion. He also ordered the cancellation of certificates that let some of Trump’s businesses operate.
This could force Trump to cede control to a receiver of properties including Manhattan’s Trump Tower, a Wall Street office building, golf courses, and his family estate in suburban Westchester County, New York.
Late on Wednesday night, the attorney-general’s office and defense lawyers disclosed lists of witnesses, potentially numbering well over 100, who may be called to testify. Donald Trump and his adult sons appear on both lists, as do former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg and controller Jeffrey McConney.