NY Attorney General refuses to drop $454m fraud case against Trump

The New York Attorney General’s office has firmly rejected Donald Trump’s request to dismiss its $454 million civil fraud lawsuit, asserting that the case does not infringe on his presidential duties.

In a letter to Trump’s legal team, Deputy Solicitor General Judith Vale stated that the appeal presented “no basis” for halting the proceedings, emphasizing that “the ordinary burdens of civil litigation do not impede the president’s official duties in a way that violates the U.S. Constitution.”

Attorney General Letitia James initially filed the lawsuit in 2022, accusing Trump and his organization of manipulating his net worth to secure favorable tax and insurance benefits. Last year, a New York judge ruled that Trump, his business, and its executives were liable for fraud, a decision the former president has since appealed.

Trump, recently elected to serve another term as president, argued that dropping the case would serve “the greater good of the country.” However, the AG’s office stressed that the judgment pertains solely to Trump’s private business dealings and does not relate to actions taken during his presidency or anticipated during his upcoming term.

“Presidents do not have immunity from civil lawsuits arising from unofficial conduct, and such lawsuits may proceed while the president is in office,” Vale affirmed.

With interest continuing to accumulate during the appeals process, Trump, the Trump Organization, and its executives now owe more than $497 million. The case underscores ongoing legal challenges facing the former president as he prepares to step back into the White House.