Trump Responds Fiercely to Judge Following Appellate Court Win That Revoked $500 Million Penalty

Trump’s Outburst Against Judge Engoron After Major Legal Victory

Emerging from a significant appellate court victory, former President Donald Trump has publicly criticized New York Judge Arthur Engoron. Trump labeled Engoron as “incompetent” and “crooked,” nearly equating him to New York Attorney General Letitia James in terms of corruption.

This reaction comes on the heels of an appellate ruling that annulled a massive financial penalty of $500 million in James’ prominent civil fraud case. This ruling represents one of Trump’s most substantial legal victories to date.

“The Appellate Court removed incompetent Judge Engoron, but he refused to go, or even to acknowledge them,” Trump stated on Truth Social. He further declared Engoron to be a “highly overturned, CROOKED Judge,” suggesting he is destined for a future filled with lawsuits alongside his Chief Clerk.

Judge Engoron presided over a non-jury trial where Trump faced accusations of inflating asset values to secure more favorable lending terms for his real estate business. Trump’s allies have persistently claimed that the judge demonstrated bias against him, his family, and his business.

Appellate Court’s Ruling on Penalties

The New York Appellate Division overturned the hefty penalty, ruling that it was excessive and infringed upon the Eighth Amendment. This decision upheld the findings of liability for Trump and his organization, while confirming that James acted within her authority.

Although the ruling maintained the liability findings, it effectively rescinded the $364 million penalty, which included interest, bringing the total sum to approximately $500 million.

Judicial Opinions on the Case

Justice David Friedman expressed dissent regarding certain aspects of the ruling. He argued that James’ actual motivation was political rather than purely legal. He asserted that her aim was not market regulation but the political destruction of Trump’s career and his real estate business.

Friedman criticized James’ utilization of Section 63(12) of New York’s Executive Law, a statute that grants the attorney general expansive powers against civil fraud. He characterized this as politically charged and unprecedented, affording James virtually unlimited authority to target her political adversaries.

The Road Ahead for the Legal Battle

The division among judges concerning liability indicates that this case is likely heading to New York’s highest court, the Court of Appeals. In light of the appellate ruling, James has announced her intention to appeal.

Letitia James, a Democrat who was elected in 2018, has consistently focused on Trump. During her campaign, she referred to him as an “illegitimate president” and pledged to utilize every legal avenue to scrutinize him and his business dealings.

Federal Investigations and Allegations Against James

Following Trump’s return to political prominence, the Justice Department has launched investigations related to the fraud case against him. These inquiries also touch on allegations that James may have engaged in mortgage fraud herself.

James claims that Trump is exploiting federal resources to further his political agenda against her. Additionally, she is under investigation by the DOJ for alleged mortgage misrepresentation involving her primary residence in both Virginia and New York. James denies these accusations, framing the investigation as a retaliatory measure tied to the civil fraud suit.

As this legal drama continues to unfold, both Trump and James remain at the center of intense scrutiny and public interest, highlighting the ongoing clash between political aspirations and judicial processes.

Fox News Digital’s Michael Dorgan and Maria Paronich contributed to this report.