Attorneys for former President Donald Trump have requested a 30-day delay from Judge Arthur Engoron in enforcing the over $350 million fine from his New York civil fraud case.
The attorneys argued in a Wednesday letter that New York Attorney General Letitia James’s “rush to memorialize a ‘judgment’ violates all accepted practice in New York state court and is intended to prejudice defendants.”
The letter added, “Given that the court-appointed monitor continues to be in place, there is no prejudice to the attorney general in briefly staying enforcement to allow for an orderly post-judgment process, particularly given the magnitude of judgment.”
An independent monitor had been appointed to oversee the financial disclosures and the transfer of assets.
Mr. Engoron ruled Friday that Mr. Trump inflated his net worth to get more favorable business loans and ordered him to pay $355 million plus interest on the penalties, bringing his total to more than $450 million. The amount grows until he pays. The former president is also barred from doing business in the state for three years.
Mr. Trump said he will appeal the decision.
Ms. James said she’ll ask the judge to seize former Mr. Trump’s assets if he can’t pay the damages.
“If he does not have funds to pay off the judgment, then we will seek judgment enforcement mechanisms in court, and we will ask the judge to seize his assets,” Ms. James said in a Tuesday interview with ABC News.
“We are prepared to make sure that the judgment is paid to New Yorkers, and yes, I look at 40 Wall Street each and every day,” she said, referring to the Trump Building.