YOU CAN LEGALLY CALL TRUMP A FRAUD

Judge Arthur Engoron, ruling today in a civil lawsuit brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James, found that Donald Trump, his sons, and The Trump Organization deceived banks, insurers and others by massively overvaluing his assets and exaggerating his net worth on paperwork used in making deals and securing loans, committing fraud for years while building his alleged “real estate empire” and ordered some of the former president’s companies removed from his control and dissolved.

Engoron ordered that some of Trump’s business licenses be rescinded as punishment, making it difficult or impossible for them to do business in New York. He has continued the independent monitor appointed to oversee Trump Organization operations.

The order strips Trump of his authority to make strategic and financial decisions over some of his key properties in the state.

Trump railed against the decision, calling it “un-American” and part of an ongoing plot to damage his campaign to return to the White House.

Writing on his Truth Social Xitter knockoff, he said “My Civil rights have been violated, and some Appellate Court, whether federal or state, must reverse this horrible, un-American decision.” He insisted his company had “done a magnificent job for New York State” and “done business perfectly (like all the phone calls, the documents taken to Mar A Lardo, etc.),” calling it “A very sad Day for the New York State System of Justice!”

Engoron’s ruling, less than a week before the start of a non-jury trial in James’ lawsuit on Monday, is the strongest repudiation yet of Trump’s carefully coiffed image as a wealthy and shrewd real estate mogul turned political powerhouse.

Engoron foundthat, beyond mere bragging about his riches, Trump, his company and key executives repeatedly lied on his annual financial statements, reaping rewards such as favorable loan terms and lower insurance costs.

The judge rejected Trump’s contention that a disclaimer on the financial statements absolved him of any wrongdoing, saying “Those tactics crossed a line and violated the law.”

Engoron wrote in his 35-page ruling: “In defendants’ world: rent regulated apartments are worth the same as unregulated apartments; restricted land is worth the same as unrestricted land; restrictions can evaporate into thin air; a disclaimer by one party casting responsibility on another party exonerates the other party’s lies . That is a fantasy world, not the real world.”

Manhattan prosecutors had looked into bringing criminal charges over the same conduct but declined to do so, leaving James to sue Trump and seek penalties that aim to disrupt his and his family’s ability to do business.

Engoron’s ruling, known as summary judgment, resolves the key claim in James’ lawsuit, but several others remain. He’ll decide on those claims and James’ request for $250 million in penalties at a trial starting October 2.

Trump, Beavis, and Butthead (does anyone know which one is which?), may be sanctioned and the Trump Organization dissolved and they will not be allowed to do business in the State of New York. This would effectively make it impossible to start anywhere else since no bank would do business with them (not even Deutsche Bank).

I love it.

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