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Trump's appeal hearings in $454 million civil fraud case pending

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Although former President Donald Trump does not face another criminal trial before Election Day, he does have another court date on Sept. 26, when a New York appeals court will hear his arguments to overturn a $454 million judgment against him for misleading lenders.

The Manhattan Court of Appeals has scheduled the hearing for that day, giving Trump the opportunity to refute trial judge Arthur Engoron's conclusion that he fraudulently inflated the value of his assets to secure better credit and insurance terms.

Spokespeople for Trump and the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Engoron found Trump and certain Trump entities liable for $454 million, plus interest that continues to mount. Engoron also imposed separate liability of approximately $10 million against Trump's two eldest sons, Eric and Don Jr., and former Trump Organization CEO Allen Weisselberg.

In his appeal, the Republican presidential candidate's lawyers argue that James missed the deadline to file suit against him. They also say he did not violate the New York fraud law in question because the financial statements that included the valuation of his assets contained disclaimers and, if there were any false valuations, would not have harmed anyone.

The appeals court had already helped Trump once in this case: It allowed him and his co-defendants to post bail of only $175 million instead of the full judgment to prevent James from seizing Trump's assets while his appeal was pending.

Trump's lawyers recently tried – and failed – to remove Engoron from the case based on a conversation the judge had with another lawyer about the fraud statute. The conversation, they said, violated a rule limiting judges' consultation with experts. Engoron said he was “targeted” by the other lawyer and did not base any of his decisions on that exchange.

Even though the case is on appeal, Engoron retains jurisdiction because he imposed ongoing restrictions on the defendants, including requiring the Trump Organization to continue to be monitored by an independent monitor.

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