Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump attends a campaign rally in Waterford Township, Mich., Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024.
Former President Trump during a campaign rally in Michigan Saturday night slammed the New York judge who ordered him to pay nearly $355 million in penalties in his civil fraud case the day before in his first remarks publicly addressing the matter.
The former president railed against Judge Arthur Engoron, calling him “crooked” for his ruling on Friday issuing penalties that threaten Trump’s finances and the future of the family business
“Our court system is a mess,” he told supporters at a rally in Waterford Township, Michigan on Saturday night. “What’s happening in our country, they have to straighten it out. All you see is bitterness and revenge and hatred. Judge Engoron just fined me $355 million for doing everything right.”
But Engoron found Trump and his organization liable for falsely inflating the value some of his most famed real estate properties, including Trump Tower and a building on Wall Street, embarking on similar practices at Mar-a-Lago. More than 40 witnesses, including Trump, testified during a monthslong trial including those who kept track of the finances.
Trump also called New York Attorney General Letitia James, who sued Trump in 2022 and brought the case, a “lunatic.” In addition, he slammed special counsel Jack Smith, who brought two federal indictments against him, calling him an “animal.” Trump also mocked the pronunciation of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ name.
“These repulsive abuses of power are not just an attack on me, they’re really an attack on you and all Americans,” Trump said at the rally. “We’re all in this mess together!”
James’ investigation found that the inflated property values meant the organization could secure for loans at lower interest rates and better insurance policies.
Trump said the decision on Friday was “a lawless and unconstitutional atrocity that sets fire to our laws like no one has ever seen in this country before.”
Trump and several business entities, including the Trump Organization and the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust, were together found liable for a whopping $354,868,768.
With interest, the figure Trump and his business must pay could surpass $450 million, according to the New York attorney general’s office. The ruling also blocks Trump from participating in New York business for three years.
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