Pres. Trump held in contempt and sanctioned

I hereby hold you in civil contempt and fine you $10,000 a day.

New York State Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron, stating that former President Trump had not handed over court-requested documents by a March 31 deadline and will be fined each day until the issue is resolved.

• Justice Engoron’s decision is part of a civil fraud investigation into whether former President Trump and his company, the Trump Organization, made misleading or false statements to banks, insurers, and tax authorities for financial benefits.
• The court is seeking documents from specific Trump Organization file storage locations. In order for the case to move forward, Justice Engoron told President Trump’s lawyers that they must submit a sworn statement in writing with specifics concerning their search for the documents: “Let’s say you’re going to say, ‘I searched the files outside his office.’ I have to have an affidavit that says ‘I searched the files outside his office.'”
• President Trump’s attorney, Alina Habba, stated, “We respectfully disagree with the court’s decision today. All documents, as I explained, responsive to the subpoena were already produced to the attorney general months ago.” They plan to file an appeal.
• New York Attorney General Letitia James (D), who had filed the subpoena, requested the $10,000/day contempt fine until all documents are handed over. Following the announcement of the contempt order, James said, “For years, Donald Trump has tried to evade the law and stop our lawful investigation into him and his company’s financial dealings. Today’s ruling makes clear: No one is above the law.”
• Why It Matters: The New York case is part of a 3-year probe into President Trump’s business practices. He has denied allegations and says the investigations are politically motivated.

Judge Holds Donald Trump in Contempt, Imposes Sanctions for Noncompliance in New York Probe (WSJ)

Judge Holds Trump in Contempt Over Documents in New York A.G.’s Inquiry (NYT)