Judge Arthur Engoron of New York is holding former President Donald Trump in contempt of civil court for failing to comply with a subpoena. The subpoena was issued to obtain documents regarding the New York State Attorney General’s investigation into Trumps company, the Trump Organization.
Judge Engoron said that Trump will be fined $10,000 a day until documents are handed over.
“Mr. Trump, I know you take your business seriously, and I take mine seriously,” Judge Engoron said in a NYC courtroom crowded with reporters. “I hereby hold you in civil contempt and fine you $10,000 a day.”
Trump and his attorney, Alina Habba, said they would appeal the decision. His attorney stated that all relevant documents have already been submitted.
The New York Attorney General’s Office said that no documents were submitted in response to the office’s December subpoena, and that getting information from the Trump Organization is like “pulling teeth.”
The Attorney General for New York State, Letitia James, has been investigating the Trump Organization for more than two years. Her office has previously stated that the Trump Organization’s financial statements provided to banks and insurance companies were found to have evidence of fraud and purposeful omissions.
Attorney General James filed a motion in January, ordering Trump and his family to give sworn testimony in her investigation. In February, a judge ruled that Trump and his children would have to comply, and that Trump would be ordered to submit documents to the Attorney General’s office. He was required to submit the documents by March 3, but he was given an extension until the end of the month. When that extension ended, he and his lawyer raised new objections to the request for documents, according to a press release from Letitia James’ office.
Attorney Habba insisted that Trump’s assistants submitted thousands of documents and there are no more to be submitted. She reports she visited Mr. Trump in Florida and searched his files and could find no documents that weren’t already submitted. According to Ms. Habba, Trump himself said he had nothing more to add.