You can read the judgement here,
https://www.msnbc.com/deadline-white...pdf-rcna117499
Skip down to page 20 to get to the basis for the judgement.
The document addresses several questions or points brought up by esteemed board members.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ducbutter
Were the properties in question not appraised by an independent third party?
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Some of the properties were indeed appraised by independent third parties. The problem is that the appraisals, at least those referenced by the judge, came in at much lower values than what Trump indicated they were worth on his Statements of Financial Condition (SFC's) that he submitted to banks. See for example "Seven Springs Estate" on page 22 of the judgement. The highest of multiple appraisals indicated the estimated value was $56.6 million, while Trump said the value was $291 million on his SFC.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1blackman1
Yes, if the judgment is upheld, he’ll have to pay it. If he doesn’t he’ll be held in contempt accruing further fines. And then the state will proceed with a collection through seizure of of these overvalued properties and send them to sheriff sale until they collect 250 mil.
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Did you get this from reading the judgement and the plaintiff's motion for partial summary judgement? Or from MSNBC? (Just kidding, about MSNBC.)
The judge granted the Attorney General's motion for partial summary judgement, "to the extent of finding" Donald J. Trump et al "liable as a matter of law for persistent violations of Executive Law 63(12)." The judge does not appear to have agreed with a specified dollar amount for the penalty or damages. Now I haven't read the AG's motion and I know about .0001% as much about court judgements as you do, but unless you've actually looked at the court filings, would suspect the amount Trump will owe hasn't been settled yet.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jackie S
Could this be a crime without a victim?
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Yes, definitely. The judge actually addresses that and says it doesn't matter, that the banks made money on the loans and Trump didn't default.
The judge ordered that the New York business certificates of any entity controlled by Trump be cancelled. And within 10 days of the order, the parties (presumably the Attorney General and Trump) must recommend "the names of no more than three potential independent receivers to manage the dissolution of the canceled LLC's."
That last bit sounds harsh to me. Hell if I know though. Al Capone got eleven years for tax evasion, which sounds harsh too, although when you add in all the other things he did, he got off lightly. Trump's nowhere near in the same league as Al Capone though. And while I believe he deserves far more than a slap on the hand, he doesn't deserve to have his businesses dissolved either.
Jackie brought up the political angle, which I believe has merit. New York, the self-proclaimed financial capitol of the world, has fined big banks, including foreign banks, billions for violations that didn't deserve fines anywhere close to what they had to pay. That's probably popular in New York. While the consumers and customers in places all over the world are the ones who deserve compensation, New Yorkers reap the benefits of the huge fines. Similarly, in addition to New York, Trump is being busted for loans to his businesses in various states in the U.S. as well as Scotland. Trump's not popular in New York, so undoubtedly the majority of the population is in the judge's corner.
One other item, if you'd like to know exactly what law Trump violated, it's here, in part 12 of New York Executive Law 63,
https://codes.findlaw.com/ny/executive-law/exc-sect-63/
The law is kind of nebulous. It makes no mention of lying to your bank, but rather of engaging in repeated fraudulent or illegal acts.