SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
Then-President Donald Trump shushed journalists before signing legislation on June 5, 2020 in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Trump Held in Contempt of Court for Failing to Comply With Subpoena in Fraud Case
A New York state judge ordered the former president to pay a fine of $10,000 per day for every day he fails to turn over subpoenaed documents.
Apr 25, 2022
This post has been updated.
New York Attorney General Letitia James marked a "major victory" in her case against former President Donald Trump Monday as a state judge held Trump in contempt for failing to comply with a subpoena.
The former president will be fined $10,000 per day for allowing the New York state Supreme Court's March 31 deadline to pass without turning over documents related to the state's investigation into alleged financial fraud.
\u201c#BREAKING: In a major victory, a court has ruled in our favor to hold Donald Trump in contempt of court.\n\nDonald Trump must pay $10,000 per day for every day that he continues to defy the court's order to turn over documents to my office.\u201d— NY AG James (@NY AG James) 1650904850
"Today, justice prevailed," said James. "Our investigation into Donald Trump and the Trump Organization's financial dealings will continue undeterred because no one is above the law."
James said in February that her office has obtained evidence that Trump and his real estate empire "used fraudulent and misleading financial statements to obtain economic benefit."
The documents that Trump has failed to provide to state Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron include files that were kept outside the former president's office at the Trump Organization, in a storage room, in the executive office storage closet, and in other file cabinets.
James' office is also seeking records from three mobile devices used by the former president. The attorney general has made eight separate requests to Trump's team for the documents since the deadline passed.
"Donald Trump is not beyond the reach of this court's authority," said Assistant Attorney General Andrew Amer in court Monday. "Our patience is at an end, and so should the court's [be]."
Like the Manhattan district attorney's separate criminal case against Trump, James' investigation pertains to allegations that Trump's business committed fraud by intentionally misrepresenting their properties' values to potential lenders.
Engoron on Monday rebuked Trump and his legal team for failing to provide a sworn statement confirming that they had searched for the documents in question.
"I feel like there's an 800-pound gorilla in the room, and that is, why don't we have an affidavit from him?" Engoron said. "There is a difference between saying something and saying something under oath."
Trump and two of his children, Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump, are currently awaiting a decision regarding whether they will be required to give depositions in James' civil investigation. They were ordered to do so in February but appealed the order.
James' team said Monday that it may soon take "enforcement action," such as suing the Trump Organization, which could result in major financial penalties for the company.
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your commitment. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. While every gift matters and makes a powerful difference, it gives us the stability to invest confidently in in-depth, fearless reporting — the kind of journalism that holds power accountable and fuels real change. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — your steady support helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
This post has been updated.
New York Attorney General Letitia James marked a "major victory" in her case against former President Donald Trump Monday as a state judge held Trump in contempt for failing to comply with a subpoena.
The former president will be fined $10,000 per day for allowing the New York state Supreme Court's March 31 deadline to pass without turning over documents related to the state's investigation into alleged financial fraud.
\u201c#BREAKING: In a major victory, a court has ruled in our favor to hold Donald Trump in contempt of court.\n\nDonald Trump must pay $10,000 per day for every day that he continues to defy the court's order to turn over documents to my office.\u201d— NY AG James (@NY AG James) 1650904850
"Today, justice prevailed," said James. "Our investigation into Donald Trump and the Trump Organization's financial dealings will continue undeterred because no one is above the law."
James said in February that her office has obtained evidence that Trump and his real estate empire "used fraudulent and misleading financial statements to obtain economic benefit."
The documents that Trump has failed to provide to state Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron include files that were kept outside the former president's office at the Trump Organization, in a storage room, in the executive office storage closet, and in other file cabinets.
James' office is also seeking records from three mobile devices used by the former president. The attorney general has made eight separate requests to Trump's team for the documents since the deadline passed.
"Donald Trump is not beyond the reach of this court's authority," said Assistant Attorney General Andrew Amer in court Monday. "Our patience is at an end, and so should the court's [be]."
Like the Manhattan district attorney's separate criminal case against Trump, James' investigation pertains to allegations that Trump's business committed fraud by intentionally misrepresenting their properties' values to potential lenders.
Engoron on Monday rebuked Trump and his legal team for failing to provide a sworn statement confirming that they had searched for the documents in question.
"I feel like there's an 800-pound gorilla in the room, and that is, why don't we have an affidavit from him?" Engoron said. "There is a difference between saying something and saying something under oath."
Trump and two of his children, Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump, are currently awaiting a decision regarding whether they will be required to give depositions in James' civil investigation. They were ordered to do so in February but appealed the order.
James' team said Monday that it may soon take "enforcement action," such as suing the Trump Organization, which could result in major financial penalties for the company.
This post has been updated.
New York Attorney General Letitia James marked a "major victory" in her case against former President Donald Trump Monday as a state judge held Trump in contempt for failing to comply with a subpoena.
The former president will be fined $10,000 per day for allowing the New York state Supreme Court's March 31 deadline to pass without turning over documents related to the state's investigation into alleged financial fraud.
\u201c#BREAKING: In a major victory, a court has ruled in our favor to hold Donald Trump in contempt of court.\n\nDonald Trump must pay $10,000 per day for every day that he continues to defy the court's order to turn over documents to my office.\u201d— NY AG James (@NY AG James) 1650904850
"Today, justice prevailed," said James. "Our investigation into Donald Trump and the Trump Organization's financial dealings will continue undeterred because no one is above the law."
James said in February that her office has obtained evidence that Trump and his real estate empire "used fraudulent and misleading financial statements to obtain economic benefit."
The documents that Trump has failed to provide to state Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron include files that were kept outside the former president's office at the Trump Organization, in a storage room, in the executive office storage closet, and in other file cabinets.
James' office is also seeking records from three mobile devices used by the former president. The attorney general has made eight separate requests to Trump's team for the documents since the deadline passed.
"Donald Trump is not beyond the reach of this court's authority," said Assistant Attorney General Andrew Amer in court Monday. "Our patience is at an end, and so should the court's [be]."
Like the Manhattan district attorney's separate criminal case against Trump, James' investigation pertains to allegations that Trump's business committed fraud by intentionally misrepresenting their properties' values to potential lenders.
Engoron on Monday rebuked Trump and his legal team for failing to provide a sworn statement confirming that they had searched for the documents in question.
"I feel like there's an 800-pound gorilla in the room, and that is, why don't we have an affidavit from him?" Engoron said. "There is a difference between saying something and saying something under oath."
Trump and two of his children, Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump, are currently awaiting a decision regarding whether they will be required to give depositions in James' civil investigation. They were ordered to do so in February but appealed the order.
James' team said Monday that it may soon take "enforcement action," such as suing the Trump Organization, which could result in major financial penalties for the company.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.