Former President Donald Trump is appealing a New York judge's ruling that he must pay $454 million in penalties and interest in a civil fraud case.
According to BBC, the February 16 judgment was $355 million, but the amount has surged with interest as it keeps growing by at least $112,000 daily.
Donald Trump Appeals Ruling in Civil Fraud Case
In their court filing on Monday, the lawyers of Donald Trump asked the appellate division to overturn New York Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron's verdict in Attorney General Letitia James' lawsuit and reverse the massive penalties.
The lawyers wrote in their notices of appeal that they were asking the appeals court to decide if the judge committed errors of law or fact and if it "abused its discretion," or "acted in excess" of his jurisdiction.
The lawyers have argued that Trump was wrongly sued under a consumer-protection statute usually used to restrain businesses that defraud customers.
According to the Associated Press, the appeal will not automatically stop enforcement of the judgment, and the former president has until March 25 to secure a stay, a legal method halting collection while he appeals.
Trump could be granted an automatic stay if he offers money, assets, or an appeal bond covering the amount owed. He could also ask the appeals court to grant a stay without getting a bond or with a lower bond amount. It is still not clear what route he will take.
Donald Trump Calls the Fraud Case a Political Witch Hunt
Last week, the judge denied the request of Donald Trump to postpone enforcing the judgment for a month. Arthur Engoron rejected the former president's request for an additional 30 days, writing, "You have failed to explain, much less justify, any basis for a stay."
The judge has directed Trump to pay $355 million plus interest on February 16 for fraudulently inflating the values of his properties.
He also barred Trump from serving as an officer or director of a corporation or other legal entities in New York, including in his firm, the Trump Organization, for three years after he found the former president liable for fraud, conspiracy, and issuing false financial statements and false business records.
Engoron also found Trump's two adult sons liable for fraud and ordered them to pay $4 million each. Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump are also barred from doing business in New York for two years.
Both Trump's sons, who maintained that there was no wrongdoing, joined their father's appeal on Monday. Trump has repeatedly said the case is a politically motivated "witch hunt."
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