The New York attorney general’s office has rejected President-elect Donald Trump’s request to dismiss a $454 million civil fraud case, asserting that the appeal of the judgment will not hinder his upcoming presidency. In response to Trump’s attorney seeking to drop the case post-election, New York’s Deputy Solicitor General emphasized that presidents are not immune to civil lawsuits stemming from unofficial actions and can be subject to legal proceedings while in office.
This move by Trump is part of his ongoing efforts to resolve legal matters as he prepares to return to the White House in the coming month. Despite special counsel Jack Smith agreeing to drop indictments related to election interference and mishandling classified information due to Justice Department guidelines against indicting a sitting president, Trump is facing challenges in other cases.
Trump has also sought dismissal of a criminal hush money case and a conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records, with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg opposing these motions. The current focus is on a civil fraud case that concluded last year, where New York Judge Arthur Engoron ruled that Trump and associates had artificially inflated property values on financial documents to secure favorable loan and insurance terms.
The court ordered Trump to pay $454 million, which includes interest. Despite Trump’s appeal, the decision from the appeals court is pending. The attorney general’s office clarified that Trump’s official duties will not be obstructed during the appeal process, emphasizing that his upcoming inauguration as President will not impact the ongoing legal proceedings.
