Former U.S. President Donald Trump looks relaxed at a presidential election rally held at a hotel in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on the 17th (local time). [사진=로이터 연합뉴스]
A U.S. court sentenced former President Donald Trump and others, who were accused of inflating his assets, to a fine of close to 500 billion won on the 16th (local time). Former President Trump immediately objected, calling it “election interference and a witch hunt,” and announced his intention to appeal.
Judge Arthur Engoron of the Manhattan District Court in New York ruled that former President Trump must pay a total fine of $364 million (approximately 480 billion won) in a sentencing hearing on fraud loan allegations involving former President Trump and the Trump Organization held on the same day. .
In his ruling, Judge Engoron said, “The defendants submitted blatantly false financial data to accountants in order to borrow more money at a lower interest rate, and as a result, created false financial statements.”
Previously, New York State Attorney General Letitia James filed a civil suit in the Manhattan District Court in New York City in September 2022, alleging that former President Trump and the Trump Group falsely and inflated the value of their assets in order to obtain favorable transaction terms from banks and insurance companies. there is.
In his ruling, Judge Engoron, the presiding judge, ordered a total fine of $355 million (approximately 470 billion won), saying that it was acknowledged that former President Trump and businesses such as the Trump Group had obtained unfair profits by falsely inflating the value of their assets.
Former President Trump’s eldest son, Trump Jr., and his second son, Eric, were also fined $4 million each, and Alan Weisselberg, who was called ‘Trump’s accountant,’ was also fined $1 million.
Judge Engoron also issued a restraining order banning former President Trump from holding high-ranking positions in businesses in New York State for three years and banning his two sons from holding high-ranking positions in businesses in New York State for two years.
Former President Trump immediately objected. Alina Harbaugh, former President Trump’s attorney and legal team spokeswoman, said in a statement, “It is the culmination of a multi-year political witch hunt designed to bring down Donald Trump before (New York State Attorney General) Letitia James even stepped foot in the Attorney General’s office.” He said. She said she plans to appeal the ruling.
Former President Trump called the ruling on social media, “It is election interference and a witch hunt. “It’s completely nonsense,” he criticized.
He criticized Attorney General James as a “corrupt racist bent on catching Trump,” and claimed, “The judicial system in New York State and the United States is under attack by partisan, deluded, and biased judges and prosecutors.”
Reporter Information Jeon Seong-min ball@ajunews.com
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