On Friday, New York justice granted a temporary reprieve to Donald Trump in his civil trial on charges of fraud since Monday, by suspending the partial dismantling of the New York real estate empire of the former president of the United States.
• Read also: United States: Trump supports Jim Jordan for Speaker of the House of Representatives
• Read also: Trump denies discussing US nuclear submarines with Australian billionaire
• Read also: Trump drops charges against his former lawyer
The Republican billionaire, the front-runner in opinion polls for his party’s primary elections in the 2024 presidential elections, filed an appeal on Wednesday to stop his trial before a lower court called the “New York Supreme Court.”
The hearings, without a jury but with Mr. Trump present, began on Monday, October 2, but were preceded on September 26 by a surprise summary decision by Judge Arthur Engoron that found “repeated fraud” by the Trump Organization group and ordered the business to be divested. Licenses in New York State from Donald Trump and two of his sons, Don Jr. and Eric.
In a ruling issued by the New York Court of Appeals on Friday, and published by the judicial press, justice refused to suspend the trial, but decided to “suspend the implementation of the cancellation of commercial licenses” and confiscate Trump family companies.
This is a partial victory for the former president, who got a respite in the partial dismantling of his real estate group ordered by Judge Engoron last week.
His colleague, Appeals Judge Peter Moulton, heard on Friday from Trump’s lawyers and representatives of the plaintiff, New York State Attorney General (the equivalent of a local attorney general) Letitia James, who is seeking $250 million in damages.
The real estate empire “is owned and controlled by Trump.” Once it melts, it melts. “It’s a mess, it’s a mess now,” said one of Donald Trump’s defenders, Christopher Case, according to ABC TV, who was present at the appeals court.
In contrast, Ms. James’s representative, Judy Vale, said that there was “absolutely no legal basis to temporarily suspend the trial that had already been underway for a week.”
Donald Trump spent nearly three days in a Manhattan courthouse, in the courtroom and in the hallways with the press.
District Attorney James mocked him on Wednesday for his “spectacle” and “political stunt (and) fundraising operation.” In return, he described this African-American judge and elected representative of the Democratic Party as “corrupt” and “racist.”
She reiterated that “justice will prevail” in this trial, which will resume on Tuesday.
