The Honorable Judge Arthur Engoron of the New York County State Supreme Court Monday ruled that Donald Trump is in civil contempt of court. Engoron will fine the former President $10,000 a day until he purges, or rectifies, the contempt.
New York Attorney General Letitia James subpoenaed Trump as part of a financial investigation by her office into the Trump Organization. On February 17, Engoron ruled that Trump must “comply in full” with the subpoena and appear for a deposition by March 31. The order also mandated that Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump Jr. appear for depositions.
James filed a motion for contempt on April 7 after Trump again failed to deliver documents and information despite a “crystal clear order from the court.” James’s motion also asked Engoron to fine Trump $10,000 for every day that he withheld documents. Engoron imposed the recommended fine, but the court has not established a start date for payments.
On Monday’s ruling, James said: “For years, Donald Trump has tried to evade the law and stop our lawful investigation into him and his company’s financial dealings. Today’s ruling makes clear: No one is above the law.”
Last week, Trump issued a statement calling James “racist and highly partisan” and criticizing her for “spending millions of dollars and utilizing a large portion of her office in going after” his organization. In response, James’s office said the attorney general would “not be bullied or intimidated by the former president.”