Judge scolds Trump lawyers, denies bid to toss fraud lawsuit

NEW YORK — A Manhattan decide on Friday scolded Donald Trump’s legal professionals as he denied their bid to dismiss a lawsuit accusing the previous president and his corporation of a yearslong fraud scheme.

Choose Arthur Engoron stated attorneys for Trump and his Trump Business “should have known better” than to recycle what he said were frivolous, meritless arguments in paperwork seeking the dismissal of New York Attorney Normal Letitia James’ lawsuit.

Engoron criticized the Trump lawyers during his 9-page choice, even quoting baseball great Yogi Berra by producing that the bulk of their arguments — like Trump’s oft-recurring claim that the lawsuit was portion of a politically determined “witch hunt” — ended up “deja vu all around all over again.”

Engoron experienced threatened to punish the Trump attorneys, but he claimed immediately after excoriating them in his conclusion that he experienced made his point.

The lawsuit, submitted in September, alleges Trump and the Trump Corporation misled banks and other people about the worth of prized property, including golfing programs and hotels bearing his title. James, a Democrat, is trying to get $250 million and a long-lasting ban on Trump, a Republican, undertaking enterprise in the point out.

“Once again, Donald Trump’s attempts to evade the legislation have been rejected,” James stated in a assertion. “We sued Mr. Trump due to the fact we discovered that he engaged in yrs of extensive economic fraud to enrich himself and cheat the program. Today’s choice can make distinct that Donald Trump is not above the regulation and need to reply for his actions in court.”

Trump lawyer Alina Habba said they are setting up to appeal Engoron’s ruling, just the most up-to-date he’s made towards Trump or Trump-similar passions while presiding around matters related to the lawsuit and an fundamental investigation into his company.

Previous calendar year, Engoron held Trump in contempt and fined him $110,000 soon after he was slow to convert around files. He also pressured him to sit for a deposition with James’ investigators. In that testimony, Trump invoked his Fifth Amendment protection versus self-incrimination far more than 400 occasions.

In November, Engoron stated he was appointing an impartial check “to ensure there is no more fraud” at the Trump Business, restricting its potential to freely make deals, offer belongings and change its company framework whilst the lawsuit is pending.

The Trump Organization was convicted of prison tax fraud very last month for helping executives dodge taxes on extravagant benefits such as apartments and luxury cars.

The corporation is experiencing a opportunity $1.6 million good and is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 13.