Former President Donald Trump is appealing a New York judge’s ruling that he must pay $454 million in penalties and interest in a civil fraud case.
The judgment, initially $355 million, has increased due to accruing interest of at least $112,000 per day.
New York Attorney General Letitia James has warned that if Trump does not pay, she will seek to seize some of his assets. The case revolves around allegations that Trump inflated property values to secure better loan terms.
Judge Arthur Engoron also barred Trump from conducting business in the state for three years.
The appeal filed by Trump on Monday means the legal battle will likely extend into the election season, as he prepares for a potential rematch against Democratic President Joe Biden in November.
Trump has consistently denounced the ruling as a political witch hunt and has vowed to appeal. His lawyer, Alina Habba, expressed hope that the appellate court will overturn the fine and restore public faith in New York’s legal system.
Trump’s legal team argues that he was wrongly sued under a consumer-protection statute typically used against businesses that defraud customers. The appeals process could last a year or longer, and Trump could potentially delay payment by offering money, assets, or an appeal bond.
In addition to this case, Trump was ordered to pay $83 million in a defamation case and faced another lawsuit over allegations of falsifying business records. The former president has maintained his innocence in all these cases.