New York judge rules Trump committed fraud while building real estate empire

A judge ruled Tuesday that Donald Trump and his company committed fraud while building his real estate empire, after New York Attorney General Letitia James accused the former president of overvaluing his assets. 

Judge Arthur Engoron ruled Tuesday that the former president and his company deceived banks, insurers and others by massively overvaluing his assets and exaggerating his net worth on paperwork used in making deals and securing financing.

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Engoron ordered that some of Trump’s business licenses be rescinded as punishment, making it difficult or impossible for them to do business in New York. The judge said he would continue to have an independent monitor oversee the Trump Organization’s operations.

The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. 

The ruling comes out of James’ lawsuit, in which she alleged Trump “inflated his net worth by billions of dollars” and said his children helped him to do so.

When Trump was president, James sued his administration dozens of times, challenging policies on the environment, immigration, education, health care and other issues.

Trump sued James in November and claimed she abused her position as attorney general to “recklessly injure” him, his family and his businesses.  Trump alleged James was pursuing “a relentless, pernicious, public, and unapologetic crusade” against him “with the stated goal of destroying him personally, financially, and politically.”

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In January, Trump voluntarily dismissed that lawsuit.

Trump was deposed as part of the lawsuit in April for the second time. During that deposition, the former president and 2024 GOP frontrunner, answered questions. The first deposition took place in August, but Trump invoked his Fifth Amendment rights.

Trump has denied any wrongdoing and has said the investigation is politically motivated and a “witch hunt.”