Furious Trump responds after judge orders him to pay over $350m in fraud case

Former president Donald Trump has blasted the decision in his New York civil fraud trial, unsubstantially accusing the judge who oversaw the trial and the New York attorney general who brought the lawsuit against him of working together to impose financial penalties on him for political reasons.

“A Crooked New York State Judge, working with a totally Corrupt Attorney General who ran on the basis of “I will get Trump,” before knowing anything about me or my company, has just fined me $355 Million based on nothing other than having built a GREAT COMPANY,” Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social on Friday.

Just like the former president has claimed before during other trials and investigations, Mr Trump declared the decision a form of “election interference” and a “witch hunt”.

His statement came moments after New York Justice Arthur Engoron ruled that Mr Trump, his adult sons and former associates of the Trump Organization were liable for more than $350m for defrauding investors and banks in order to obtain favourable treatment on some of his properties.

Justice Engoron spent months hearing testimony and evidence regarding the case which was brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James two years ago.

Ultimately, Justice Engoron decided Mr Trump and his co-defendants were liable for tens of millions of dollars each.

He also barred the former president from holding a top position in a New York company or from obtaining loans from New York banks for three years.

Former President Donald Trump leaves Trump Tower in New York on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024 (AP)

Though the decision was not unexpected, Mr Trump still lambasted Justice Engoron’s decision as a “Complete and Total SHAM”.

The former president claimed there were no victims, damages or complaints resulting from the years-long financial fraud he conspired in.

Instead, he said it “satisfied” banks and insurance companies – a point which Mr Trump’s lawyers made throughout the trial.

Mr Trump went on in his long Truth Social rant to directly attack Justice Engoron and Ms James, which the former president invoked no shortage of throughout the investigation and trial to defend himself against accusations and rulings.

Mr Trump said he planned to appeal Justice Engoron’s decision.