Trump Organization gets big hit in fraud lawsuit

New York, New York - Former president Donald Trump and his legal team took a hit after a judge ruled that a court-appointed monitor will now oversee the Trump Organization as its fraud lawsuit continues.

A New York judge has ruled that a court-appointed monitor will oversee Donald Trump's Trump Organization throughout the duration of the fraud lawsuit.
A New York judge has ruled that a court-appointed monitor will oversee Donald Trump's Trump Organization throughout the duration of the fraud lawsuit.  © MANDEL NGAN / AFP

New York State Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron issued the ruling on Thursday, citing Trump's "demonstrated propensity to engage in persistent fraud" as the reason behind the decision.

Trump was not too happy with the ruling and took to his social platform Truth Social on Friday to slam the judge, calling him "biased," "a lunatic" and "controlled by my worst enemies."

State district attorney Letitia James filed the $250 million lawsuit in September alleging "Trump, his family, and the Trump Org used fraudulent and misleading asset valuations over 200 times in 10 years on his annual financial statements."

Trump threatens Republican congressman with a primary challenge for refusing to raise debt ceiling
Donald Trump Trump threatens Republican congressman with a primary challenge for refusing to raise debt ceiling

At the same time, the Trump Org reportedly filed paperwork to register a new company, deemed the Trump Organization II – perhaps allowing the company to transfer assets or to affect the investigation. James' camp requested a court-appointed watchdog to make sure the company complies.

Now that it has been granted, Trump will be unable to sell or transfer any assets within the company without "first providing 14 days written notice" to the judge.

The monitor, which is expected to stay in place until the end of the trial, will also have access to any other data needed "to assess the accuracy of any representation" in future financial filings.

"Today's decision will ensure that Donald Trump and his companies cannot continue the extensive fraud that we uncovered and will require the appointment of an independent monitor to oversee compliance at the Trump Organization," James said in a press statement.

"No number of lawsuits, delay tactics, or threats will stop our pursuit of justice," she added.

Donald Trump slams the move for a court-appointed monitor of the Trump Organization

Trump, who had fought the appointment of a monitor in a countersuit lodged back at James, continued to slam the monitor move to his followers throughout the day Friday, describing it as "a ruling never before seen anywhere in America," and "Communism come to our shores."

"We have to fight back against radical tyranny and save our country!" he added.

The judge has ordered the attorney general's office to propose three potential monitors by November 12.

Cover photo: MANDEL NGAN / AFP

More on Donald Trump: