The New York attorney general’s office has rejected President-elect Donald Trump’s attempt to end a multi-million dollar penalty in his civil fraud case. The case went to trial last year, and a New York judge found that Trump and his business had inflated the values of properties on financial statements used to obtain favorable loan and insurance rates.
The judge ordered Trump to pay $454 million, including interest.
Trump appealed, while the appeals court has yet to issue a decision.
Deputy Solicitor General Judith Vale wrote in a letter to Trump’s attorney that they denied his call for New York Attorney General Letitia James to drop the case.
“The ordinary burdens of civil litigation do not impede the president’s official duties in a way that violates the U.S. Constitution,” Vale said.
James’ office added that Trump, as president, is not immune from civil cases that are not connected to his official office duties.
Trump’s move is his latest attempt to eliminate his legal cases before he returns to the White House next month.
Special counsel Jack Smith has agreed to dismiss criminal indictments. Those indictments charged Trump with overthrowing the 2020 election and improperly handling classified documents. He cited the Justice Department policy against indicting a sitting president.
