Former President Donald Trump has appealed a district judge’s civil contempt order that fined him $10,000 a day for failing to comply with a subpoena from the New York attorney general, who demanded accounting documents for an investigation. about the finances of the Trump Organization.
The fine went into effect Tuesday after Judge Arthur Engoron issued a written order stating a contempt judgment earlier this week.
Since Trump is appealing it, he may not have to pay the fine until it is resolved.
The office of New York Attorney General Letitia James has been investigating the Trump Organization over whether it defrauded lenders and tax authorities who relied on the company’s financial statements.
The prosecution asked Engoron to hold Trump in contempt for failing to comply with a December subpoena. Trump’s attorney, Alina Habba, said they had searched and found no new documents to provide investigators, aside from the 10 previously provided by the Trump Organization itself.
The judge said Tuesday that the defense gave a “boiled” response in an affidavit and did not address whether Trump’s team had searched files and other records.
Engoron wrote in the document that Trump “willfully disobeyed” his earlier order to comply with the subpoena and document production, saying that doing so harmed James’ civilian investigation.
The attorney general’s office criticized the appeal.
“The judge’s order was clear: Donald J. Trump is in contempt of court and must pay $10,000 per day until he complies with our subpoenas,” James said in a statement. “We have seen this playbook before, and it has never stopped our investigation into Mr. Trump and his organization. This time it will be no different.”
