Letitia James Faces MAGA Fury as Appeals Court Overturns Trump’s Fraud Penalty—but Key Element Goes Unnoticed

President Donald Trump and his supporters are in high spirits following a New York appellate court’s decision to dismiss a substantial civil fraud penalty against him, previously imposed by Attorney General Letitia James. A divided panel of five judges from the Manhattan Appellate Division did uphold Justice Arthur Engorgon’s ruling that found Trump guilty of fraudulently exaggerating his wealth over many years, as reported by the Associated Press. However, they deemed the initial $315 million fine “excessive” and contrary to the Eighth Amendment. While the judges concurred on the excessive nature of the fine, they reached no consensus on other aspects. The ruling eliminates the possibility of Trump facing a half-billion-dollar fine, yet it continues to restrict him and his sons, Don Jr. and Eric, from managing the Trump Organization for a defined period. Despite this setback for James, she affirmed the trial court’s finding of fraud against Trump and his family. Trump's camp reacted with claims of a “total victory,” although the core issues of the case remain unresolved.

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