Trump no longer held in contempt of court in New York case

Donald Trump is no longer guilty of contempt of court, a New York judge ruled on Wednesday.

Judge Arthur Engoron, who found the former president in contempt on April 25 for his slow response to a civil subpoena issued by the New York attorney general, said Trump had now met the requirements for lift the sanction following a long legal battle.

The judge had ordered Trump to pay US$10,000 a day until he complied with Letitia James’ subpoena, issued in December.

Trump racked up $110,000 in fines before Engoron stopped them from accumulating, to allow more time to comply with the subpoena. He paid the fines, which will remain in escrow while he appeals the initial contempt filing.

He and two of his children, Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump, are expected to testify under oath in James’s investigation beginning July 15, after two state courts refused to block their depositions.

“While we are delighted that the court lifted the contempt decision, we maintain that it was totally unwarranted and improper,” Trump attorney Alina Habba said. « We will continue our appeal for justice for our client. »

A message seeking comment was left in James’s office.

James, a Democrat, has spent more than three years investigating the Trump Organization, which manages hotels, golf courses and other real estate around the world.

She said in January that her civil investigation had uncovered « significant » new evidence that the company had overstated the value of assets to obtain favorable loan terms and understated those values ​​to obtain tax breaks.

Trump, a Republican, called James’ investigation a politically motivated witch hunt.