A New York Judge on Wednesday agreed to lift a civil contempt charge against President Trump if he pays $110,000 in fines.
Two weeks ago New York Judge Arthur Engoron held Donald Trump in contempt and ordered a fine of $10,000 per day that he refuses to turn over documents to New York Attorney General Letitia James.
During a previous hearing, the judge considered James’ contempt request.
“Mr. Trump, I know you take your business seriously, and I take mine seriously, I hereby hold you in civil contempt and fine you $10,000 a day,” Engoron ruled.
The documents that James is requesting relate to the Trump Organization’s business dealings. She claims that the organization manipulated property values for tax purposes.
Trump’s lawyers submitted sworn affidavits arguing the former president cannot find the subpoenaed documents.
Judge Engoron on Wednesday agreed to lift the contempt charge after previously ruling to keep it in place – only if Trump agrees to extra fines.
CNN reported:
A New York judge on Wednesday lifted the civil contempt finding against former President Donald Trump, assuming certain conditions are met, and ordered him to pay $110,000 in fines.
Judge Arthur Engoron set several conditions that he said need to be met by May 20 or he will restore the contempt finding and possibly apply it retroactively. Those conditions include providing sworn statements describing the Trump Organization’s document retention and destruction policy, including how Post-it notes were handled, and completing the review of five boxes tied to Trump that were located in an off-site storage facility. A written decision is expected to be issued later Wednesday.
The judge also agreed to allow Trump to place the fine in an escrow account until the former President’s appeal of the contempt ruling is completed.
But he told Trump’s attorney: “I want the fine paid. That fine is now $110,000.”
The judge stopped the clock on the fine as of last Friday when Trump’s attorneys submitted additional sworn statements, including one from Trump, about his effort to comply with the subpoena from the New York attorney general’s office for records.