A New York State judge has held Donald Trump in contempt of court and fined the former president $10,000 a day after Trump failed to hand over documents to prosecutors investigating his business practices.
Judge Arthur Engoron, a New York State supreme court judge, said that Trump failed to abide by his order to comply with the subpoena and that his attorneys also failed to show how a search of materials that Trump holds was conducted.
New York State Attorney Letitia James had asked for the contempt finding this month, stating that Trump had not complied with a subpoena that required him to produce documents and information.
Judge Engoron agreed with James that Trump is in contempt of court, and has officially fined the former president 10 grand a day until he complies.
James’ ongoing civil investigation has focused on whether the Trump Organization misstated the values of real estate properties in order to obtain favorable loans and tax deductions. Earlier this month, James said investigators had found “significant evidence” of Trump’s wrongdoings.
Earlier this month, an attorney for Trump said that his legal team had tried to comply and conducted a “diligent search” that found nothing.
One attorney, Alina Habba, said Trump’s company may have the requested documents.
James found that Trump failed to abide by the earlier agreement to comply “in full” with her subpoena for documents and information, which was due at the end of March, and asked for the $10,000 a day fine. James said that the judge’s orders were clear, that Trump needed to comply with the subpoena and turn over relevant documents.
The investigation has been going on for three years.
A parallel criminal inquiry, led by Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg, also focuses on whether the Trump Organization misstated the values of real estate properties in order to obtain favorable loans and tax deductions.
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