A New York appeals court on Thursday signaled it might consider lowering the nearly $500 million civil fraud judgment against Donald Trump. During the hearing, one judge called the penalty “troubling” and questioned whether the state’s pursuit of the case was overreach.
The five-judge panel heard arguments from Trump’s lawyers, who contended the case, brought by Attorney General Letitia James, unfairly targeted private business dealings with no clear victims. They argued that Trump’s financial statements were vetted by “sophisticated” parties who did their own due diligence.
While the court could rule by Election Day, the appeals panel appeared split. Judges questioned both the state’s motivations and the severity of the penalty, while also acknowledging the potential deterrent effect of the lawsuit. Trump has vowed to fight the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to news@fingerlakes1.com.