Third-party team must review Trump’s records.
QUICK FACTS:
- A judge withdrew President Donald J. Trump’s civil contempt of court order on Wednesday, granted he pays a $110,000 fine by May 20.
- “I want the fine paid,” New York Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron stated. “That fine is now $110,000.”
- The money is to be paid to New York Attorney General Letitia James (D), who launched her 2019 probe into Trump’s taxes after former lawyer Michael Cohen’s congressional testimony.
- Judge Engoron said that terminating his contempt ruling would also depend on Trump’s lawyers presenting more documents to the court about their efforts to comply with his earlier orders.
- Trump has denied any wrongdoing in the matter and Trump’s lawyers have claimed that he does not have the documents in question.
- Engoron asked that a third-party document search team complete a review of Trump’s records.
IF TRUMP DOESN’T PAY:
- Judge Engoron vowed to reinstate the contempt of court ruling and apply it retroactively if Trump fails to comply with the conditions set by the judge.
BACKGROUND:
- In April, Engoron had found Trump in contempt for failing to submit certain documents and ordered him to pay $10,000 a day until he complied.
- The 45th President has been fighting an investigation by AG James and has appealed the contempt ruling as well as Judge Engoron’s decision in February ordering him to testify in the probe.
