Trump loses bid to halt New York fraud case

An appeals court in New York State has denied a request by former President Donald Trump to suspend a summary judgment in Attorney General Letitia James' civil fraud case against him and his adult sons, reported The Washington Post Friday.

Attorneys for the former president were seeking for the trial, which started this week, to be suspended while he fights a ruling from Judge Arthur Engoron which revokes his business license in the state.

According to the report, the appellate judge agreed that control of the Trump Organization properties will temporarily remain as it is currently while Trump challenges it.

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Christopher Kise, the lawyer representing Trump, had complained to the appellate judge that Engoron's ruling was "a massive error" that will cause widespread disruption as defendants in other cases fear seizure of their property.

He also said it would cost many Trump employees their jobs.

Deputy Solicitor General Judy Vale, on the other hand, called Trump's demand for a delay “completely meritless” and noted that the state is willing to delay proceedings over ownership of Trump's properties until the trial is concluded.

The case brought by James alleges that Trump and his family lied about the value and even the square footage of properties in order to get more favorable loans — a charge Trump has disputed by saying valuation is subjective and he repaid the loans in full anyway. Engoron has already ruled for James on the facts in summary judgment, and the current trial is largely about determining the amount in damages that Trump owes.