New York Judge Lifts Contempt Of Court Order Against Donald Trump

A contempt of court order against former President Donald Trump was lifted by a New York judge on Wednesday.

It was imposed after he failed to comply with a subpoena as part of a state investigation into the Trump Organization, reported CNBC. In a court filing, New York Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron said that he took the decision after reviewing “recent additional submissions” from Trump’s legal team. The judge wrote that New York Attorney General Letitia James, whose office is conducting the civil probe into Trump's business, agreed that the newly submitted documents were enough to lift the order. Engoron wrote that it is hereby ordered that the "contempt of respondent Donald J. Trump is purged."

Trump had paid $110,000 fine as part of his contempt conditions. The judge ordered the money to be still kept in the Attorney General’s escrow account pending an appeal's outcome.

Bloomberg reported that Alina Habba, Trump’s lawyer, said that although they are pleased that the court has lifted the contempt finding, they maintain that it was "wholly unwarranted and improper in the first place." The lawyer said in a statement that they will push ahead with "our appeal to secure justice for our client.”

The New York Attorney General is investigating allegations that Trump's company improperly reported the stated valuations of some of its real estate assets in order to get some financial gain. The new court order came more than two months after the judge held Trump in contempt of court for not handing over documents pursuant to a subpoena from James’ office. James accused the former President of “trying to evade” the court’s order for him to fully comply with the investigation.

The former President and his lawyers had submitted sworn affidavits to Engoron. They argued that they did not possess any additional documents to turn over, but the judge found them “insufficient.”

As for Trump and his children, Ivanka and Donald Trump Jr., they are scheduled to testify under oath on July 15. It is to be done as part of James’ investigation after New York’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, turned down their final attempt to block the testimony, reported New York Post.