Former US President Donald Trump has been fined $110,000 (about €104,000) in the lawsuit over the release of documents. But documents are still missing – and Trump’s punishment could increase further.
The US media cited the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James on Friday. Despite the payment, which was made on Thursday, Trump still has to provide information about the search for documents. Otherwise, the order will be reinstated, including a $10,000 per day fine for contempt of court.
The background to this are civil investigations by the Attorney General, who belongs to the Democratic Party, against Republican Trump’s corporate empire for possibly fraudulent business practices. According to James, Trump and the Trump Organization used fraudulent and misleading financial reporting to gain economic advantage. It is also about the suspicion that Trump’s company is said to have given false information about the value of real estate. Trump’s company denies the allegations. The broadcaster CNBC had reported that Trump’s lawyers had said they could not find the documents requested by James.
A judge in New York decided in mid-February in the civil proceedings that the 75-year-old ex-president and his two sons must face an interrogation within 21 days. Trump – who presents himself as a victim of a “witch hunt” – is taking legal action against this decision. Donald Trump is the founder of the Trump Organization, his two sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump are the vice presidents of the company conglomerate, which is primarily active in the real estate sector. At the same time, criminal investigations against Trump and his empire are also underway in New York.
