NEW YORK — When Donald Trump’s civil fraud trial began in October, he was facing potential penalties of up to $250 million. Now, with the trial about to wrap up, New York’s attorney general wants to tack on an extra $120 million.
Attorney General Tish James’ office on Friday asked the judge overseeing the case to fine Trump and his business empire $370 million plus interest, saying the evidence introduced during the two-and-a-half month trial justifies increasing the penalties that James initially sought.
James’ office sought to prove during the trial that Trump exaggerated the value of his assets — and inflated his net worth — to obtain favorable terms from banks and insurers, and in a court filing on Friday, she said it was the money saved by those terms that dictated the largest portion of the penalty requested by her office.