The Washington Examiner's Byron York said on Monday that the verdict on former President Donald Trump's civil fraud case in New York City has already been decided.
York, the chief political correspondent for the Washington Examiner, explained that the judge in this case, Arthur Engoron, has already decided that Trump committed fraud and that the only decision left is how severe Trump's punishment will be, including whether or not Trump will be put out of business in New York. The former president was found liable last month for inflating his net worth by billions of dollars, with the trial starting on Monday.
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"So I want to read you something from the New York Times this morning that people should understand," York explained. "In light of those defenses Justice Engoron noted in his ruling last week that a powerful state law allows Ms. James, that's the New York attorney general, to pursue persistent fraud without having to show that the defendant actually intended to defraud anyone or that their actions resulted in financial loss. A lower bar than most fraud cases. It also affords drastic remedies empowering Ms. James to seek steep financial punishments and the cancellation of Mr. Trump’s certificates to operate a business in New York. So this is an unusual sort of case, I think, for most viewers, but most of it has already been decided."
York added that rather than ask what the judge will decide, people should instead "look for precedents" to see what types of punishments have been given to other cases similar to Trump's, though he acknowledged that Trump's situation is very much unprecedented. Potential questions people should look into are how big his fine could be and what would happen to his assets in New York, such as Trump Tower.
York was also asked how Monday's trial would affect Trump's 2024 presidential ambitions, as previous court appearances and indictments have seemingly only helped the former president. In response, York stated that Trump is "looking to make maximum political benefit" from this trial since his other prosecutions "have been enormously beneficial politically."
Trump arrived in New York City on Monday for the start of the trial, which will examine six claims in a sweeping lawsuit brought by Democratic New York Attorney General Letitia James. The attorney general is seeking $250 million in damages in the case and aiming to prohibit Trump from doing business in New York.
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"JUST ARRIVED AT THE COURTHOUSE TO FIGHT A CORRUPT & RACIST ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND A ROGUE, OUT OF CONTROL, TRUMP HATING JUDGE, WHO REFUSES TO FOLLOW THE APPELLATE COURT DECISION WHICH KNOKS OUT 80% OF THIS SHAM CASE," Trump posted on Truth Social. "THIS IS THE CONTINUATION OF THE GREATEST WITCH HUNT OF ALL TIME. ELECTION INTERFERENCE!"
Trump's appearance at the trial comes a little more than a year ahead of the 2024 presidential election, in which Trump is far outpacing the other Republican nominees in the party's primary race. In the event Trump wins the primary, it would set up a likely rematch between him and President Joe Biden.