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Judge rules against Trump in banking, insurance fraud case

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A New York judge Tuesday granted New York Attorney General Letitia James’ request for a partial summary judgment in the state’s lawsuit against former President Donald Trump alleging he committed insurance and banking fraud by misrepresenting the value of some of his properties.

Other issues in the case, including determination of liability and disgorgement of profits, can proceed to a trial that is scheduled to begin next week, the ruling stated.

Judge Arthur Engoron ruled that Mr. Trump and his associates repeatedly filed misleading financial documents over multiple years.

Ms. James sued Mr. Trump, the Trump Organization and others, including the ex-president’s eldest children, for financial fraud last year. Among other things, the suit alleges that the organization made misrepresentations in its purchase of surety bonds and directors and officers liability insurance, including misrepresenting financial assets.

Mr. Trump had repeatedly sought to have the case delayed or dismissed.

Judge Engoron said in the ruling that many of Mr. Trump’s arguments in the case had previously been thrown out and that many of the points were “bogus.”

“In defendants’ world: rent regulated apartments are worth the same as unregulated apartments; restricted land is worth the same as unrestricted land; restrictions can evaporate into thin air,” the ruling states. “That is a fantasy world, not the real world.”

Among other allegations, Ms. James said Mr. Trump had overvalued various properties he and his company owned, including his apartment in Trump Tower.

Mr. Trump submitted financial statements falsely claiming that the 10,996-square-foot apartment was 30,000 square feet “resulting in an overvaluation of between $114-$207 million,” the ruling stated.

“A discrepancy of this order of magnitude, by a real estate developer sizing up his own living space of decades, can only be considered fraud,” the ruling stated.

Ms. James’ lawsuit seeks to bar Mr. Trump and his adult sons Donald Jr. and Eric from running businesses in New York. It also seeks at least $250 million in penalties.