New York State Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron fined the businessman $10,000 a day until he met the court’s demands, acquiescing in the request of Letitia James.
Mr. Trump, I know you take your business seriously, and I take mine seriously.
he said, even though the former president was not present for the hearing.
Donald Trump’s lawyers have already indicated they will appeal.
The New York State Attorney General had presented his request to the court earlier this month, in connection with his civil investigation into possible tax evasion by the Trump Organization, launched in 2019.
Issued in December, the document production order gave Donald Trump until March 31 to deliver several financial documents to Letitia James’ office.
The Trump Organization handed over 6 million pages of documents, according to the Washington Postbut investigators are now seeking documents from the former president’s personal archives, including handwritten notes.
Ms. James’ office believes the Trump Organization has manipulated the value of its assets both to obtain better borrowing rates and tax advantages.
Last January, she indicated that the investigation had made it possible to unearth evidence that appears to establish “fraudulent or deceptive” practicesbut she had signaled her intention to pursue the investigation before determining whether her office would file lawsuits against Donald Trump or his family business.
The civil investigation by Attorney General Letitia James is separate from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s criminal investigation into the Trump Organization, in which she nevertheless participates.
It was launched following the explosive testimony of Michael Cohen, former personal lawyer and ex-confidence man of Donald Trump, before Congress. In 2019, he claimed that his former client overestimated his financial wealth when dealing with banks, while minimizing it with the taxman.