Trump appeals $454 million New York civil fraud ruling

Lawyers for former President Donald Trump on Monday filed a notice of appeal with a New York appeals court. New York Judge Arthur Engoron ruled earlier this month that Trump had inflated the value of assets on paperwork used in business deals. Engoron ordered Trump to pay back hundreds of millions in fines—with tens of thousands of dollars in interest accruing each day the fines aren’t paid. He also barred Trump from conducting business in New York for three years.

What does Trump have to say? He has criticized the ruling, which he had immediately promised to appeal. Trump has denied wrongdoing and said no one suffered harm from the assets’ valuation. He also testified in court that the banks were notified to do their own research for the deals.

What does this mean for Trump right now? The appeals court could accept the case and then could temporarily block enforcement of the penalties Engoron placed on Trump. He has until March 25 to get a stay, a legal order halting the collection process while he appeals. Additionally, the appeals process could last through the end of the 2024 presidential election.

Dig deeper: Read Carolina Lumetta’s report in The Stew about how the Supreme Court appeared to favor Trump’s arguments during oral arguments on his appeal of a Colorado ballot ban ruling.