On Friday, attorneys for former President Trump condemned the $335 million verdict against him, characterizing the expensive ruling as an expensive “politically motivated witch hunt” designed to bring him down over the course of several years.
Both Trump legal representatives, Christopher Kise and Alina Habba, lodged allegations against the court, alleging non-compliance with the law, subsequent to the release of Judge Arthur Engoron’s 92-page decision.
Habba described the ruling as a “witch hunt” intended to discredit the Republican front-runner, alleging that the removal was orchestrated prior to the inauguration of New York Attorney General Letitia James (D).
“This verdict is a manifest injustice – plain and simple. It is the culmination of a multi-year, politically fueled witch hunt that was designed to “take down Donald Trump,” before Letitia James ever stepped foot into the Attorney General’s office.” Habba remarked in a statement.
Although the $335 million sanction is $16 million less than what James’s office had requested, it is still equivalent to a three-year prohibition on Trump conducting business in the state of New York.
The decision was reached by Engoron mere weeks following the conclusion of closing arguments. It occurred after a protracted trial lasting several months, during which the former president frequently challenged the prosecutor and judge who had brought the case.
James initiated legal proceedings against Trump in 2022, alleging that he fabricated his net worth in order to qualify for tax and insurance benefits.
The altered financial statements were disseminated to banks and insurers with the intention of obtaining loans; the state views this as evidence of fraud in the case.
Other high-ranking executives and the Trump Organization, in addition to Trump, were deemed liable prior to the commencement of the trial.
The ruling was characterized by Kise as a “abuse of power” and will affect the entire U.S. economy.
Habba concluded by claiming that the ruling would be overturned on appeal:
“Given the grave stakes, we trust that the Appellate Division will overturn this egregious verdict and end this relentless persecution against my clients,” Habba said.
[READ MORE: Trump Decides Against Pursuing Immunity Claim to Supreme Court]
