Donald Trump Goes Berserk On Truth Social After Judge Says His Company Committed Fraud
Late Tuesday, former President Donald Trump received bad news from the New York. A judge overseeing a civil lawsuit brought
Ivy Griffith
Late Tuesday, former President Donald Trump received bad news from the New York. A judge overseeing a civil lawsuit brought against the Trump Organization ruled that the company committed fraud.
Trump didn’t take the news well. He took to his social media platform, Truth Social, for a bizarre all-caps rant about the subject. It was certainly not the only example, just the most recent, of the former President losing all filters and letting people see the frustrated person lashing out underneath the projected facade of calm and collected. Here’s what Trump had to say about the ruling out of New York.
Trump Faces Lawsuit From New York Attorney General’s Office
Last year, Manhattan prosecutors were looking to bring charges against Donald Trump and the Trump Organization. They accused Trump of fraud and other criminal misdeeds. But they ultimately declined to press charges. This led New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office to file a civil lawsuit against the Trump Organization, alleging fraud and deception. The NY AG’s office hoped that the lawsuit would levy penalties against the company that would hinder its ability to do business in New York, citing concerns of fraudulent practices.
Judge Arthur Engoran is overseeing the civil lawsuit. And he issued a ruling on Tuesday afternoon in the matter. In his ruling, Engoran said he found that Trump and his company deceived banks, insurers, and consumers. They did this by massively inflating his company’s net worth and assets. These exaggerations appeared in documents used to secure loans and make deals. As a result, the Trump Organization secured more favorable payback terms and interest rates than they were entitled to. The judge ruled that these behaviors went beyond braggadocio and violated the law.
Engoran’s Ruling: ‘That Is A Fantasy World’
Engoran wrote in part in a 35-page ruling according to AP, “In defendants’ world: rent regulated apartments are worth the same as unregulated apartments; restricted land is worth the same as unrestricted land; restrictions can evaporate into thin air; a disclaimer by one party casting responsibility on another party exonerates the other party’s lies. That is a fantasy world, not the real world.”
The summary judgment wraps up the key point in James’ lawsuit. But Engoran will decide on other issues, such as $250 million in penalties and other claims, after the trial begins on October 2. For now, Engoran has signaled that he wants multiple Trump business licenses to be revoked. This could prevent Trump from doing business in New York. However, Trump will certainly appeal.
Donald Trump Goes Wild On Truth After Judge Says Trump Org Committed Fraud
Predictably, Donald Trump did not react favorably to the ruling. He took immediately to Truth Social with a series of statements. Some of them were cool and collected. Others were unhinged and all-caps.
In one furious post, Trump snarled, “I have been unfairly sued by the Trump Hating Democrat Attorney General of New York State, Letitia James, over the false fact that I inflated my Financial Statements in order to borrow money from Banks, etc.” He added, “The Judge in the case, Arthur F. Engoron, refused to allow this case to go to the ‘Commercial Division,’ where it belongs, because he is a Trump Hater beyond even A.G. James, who campaigned against me spewing horrible inflammatory statements which are False & Defamatory. I am not even allowed a Jury! The facts of this case are simple.”
Trump then launched an all-caps roaring rant about why he believes his company did not commit fraud. He accused Engoran of slander and “maligning” him as the result of a “politically motivated Witch Hunt.”
All-Caps Rant Shows Trump’s Unrestrained Fury
He virtually screamed, “1) I AM WORTH MUCH MORE THAN THE NUMBERS SHOWN ON MY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS,” the business mogul continued. “2) I DIDN’T EVEN INCLUDE MY MOST VALUABLE ASSET, MY BRAND.”
He ranted, “3) THE BANKS WERE PAID BACK IN FULL, SOMETIMES EARLY, THERE WERE NO DEFAULTS, THE BANKS MADE MONEY, WERE REPRESENTED BY THE BEST LAW FIRMS, & WERE VERY ‘HAPPY.’ THERE WERE NO VICTIMS!”
Trump added, “4) ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS THERE IS A STRONG ‘DISCLAIMER CLAUSE’ TELLING ALL NOT TO RELY ON THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. THE DISCLAIMER CLAUSE TELLS ANYONE REVIEWING THE DATA, INCLUDING FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, TO DO THEIR OWN RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS – IT IS A NON RELIANCE CLAUSE, AND COULD NOT BE MORE CLEAR.”
The former President then concluded, “ADDITIONALLY TO MY BEING WORTH FAR MORE THAN IS SHOWN IN THE ‘FULLY DISCLAIMED’ FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, AGAIN NOT PUTTING DOWN A VALUE FOR MY BIGGEST ASSET, BRAND, THE COMPANY HAS HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN CASH, AND VERY LITTLE DEBT.”
Trump finished, “THIS IS NOT AMERICA!”
Donald Trump can no longer hide his frustration behind a calm facade, despite his best efforts. The former President is now in territory he’s unused to: the losing side.