A New York appeals court has thrown out a $454 million civil fraud fine against Donald Trump and his organization, but the panel split on whether the president had actually committed fraud.
“While the injunctive relief ordered by the court is well crafted to curb defendants’ business culture, the court’s disgorgement order, which directs that defendants pay nearly half a billion dollars to the State of New York, is an excessive fine that violates the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution,” the court order stated.
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In other words, it was a “cruel and unusual” punishment. However, the fraud conviction itself is still in effect but subject to review.
New York Attorney General Letitia James had campaigned for the office on a “get Trump” vow, and once ensconced, brought the case against him. In court, no bank that had ever dealt with Trump and his organization testified that they had been harmed. and many said they would be happy to deal with the organization again.
James found a fellow traveler in Judge Arthur Ergoran, who presided over the trial and announced his verdict before Trump and his team were even able to present all their evidence.
AG James is now subject to a possible federal investigation for abuse of prosecutorial power for initiating a politically motivated trial.