Eric Trump Gasps After What NYC Judge Just Did
Former President Donald Trump's middle son, Eric Trump, has joined in on the controversy surrounding a recent ruling by Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron. The judge's decision could potentially force Trump to dismantle his businesses in New York, and Eric has taken to social media to vent his frustrations.
In a message on his father's social media platform, Truth Social, Eric Trump railed against the ruling, saying he has "never seen such hatred towards one person by a judge." He called the decision "egregious" and vowed that it would be appealed.
Trump spokeswoman Alina Habba also stated that the decision will be appealed in a statement to the Washington Post.
In another post on the social media platform X, Eric also criticized the judge for undervaluing Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. He raged, "In an attempt to destroy my father and kick him out of New York, a Judge just ruled that Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach Florida, is only worth approximately $18 Million dollars. Mar-a-Lago is speculated to be worth well over a billion dollars making it arguably the most valuable residential property in the country. It is all so corrupt and coordinated."
The ruling by Justice Engoron stems from a civil lawsuit brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James against Trump last year. The suit accuses Trump of fraudulently inflating property valuations to deceive lenders and manipulate them to lower his tax liabilities. Trump's lawyers have asked the judge to dismiss the suit, but Engoron has denied their request.
Engoron's ruling on Tuesday found that Trump committed fraud for years while building his real estate empire, which ultimately catapulted him to fame and the White House. The judge also stated that Trump has repeatedly lied about his wealth, resulting in favorable loan terms and lower insurance premiums.
The ruling comes just days before the start of a non-jury trial in James' lawsuit and is seen as a significant blow to Trump's carefully crafted image as a wealthy and successful businessman.
In reaction to the ruling, Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social to say it was "a very sad day for the New York State System of Justice." He also criticized the judge's decision, saying it is a prime example of the judicial misconduct that is causing companies to flee New York.
The civil trial is set to begin on October 2 and could last until the end of the year. Trump's lead in the GOP field for the Republican presidential nomination has not waned despite facing multiple criminal indictments in various jurisdictions related to his election overturn efforts and other matters.
The ruling is a considerable victory for Attorney General Letitia James, who has been pursuing Trump and his business empire relentlessly. She is seeking $250 million in penalties and a ban on Trump doing business in New York, his home state.
The trial could reveal more damaging information about Trump's business dealings and ultimately have significant consequences for his future plans. Whether the ruling will affect his potential bid for the 2024 presidential election remains to be seen.