News
‘Borders on Pathological’: Judge Decimates Trump in Fraud Ruling
New York Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron’s 92-page ruling fining Donald Trump approximately $364 million includes the jurist’s scathing observations about Trump and his executives’ practices.
In an almost literary section of his ruling titled, “Refusal to Admit Error,” Justice Engoron writes, “Their complete lack of contrition and remorse borders on pathological.”
“The English poet Alexander Pope (1688-1744) first declared, ‘To err is human, to forgive is divine.’ Defendants apparently are of a different mind. After some four years of investigation and litigation, the only error (‘inadvertent,’ of course) that they acknowledge is the tripling of the size of the Trump Tower Penthouse, which cannot be gainsaid. Their complete lack of contrition and remorse borders on pathological. They are accused only of inflating asset values to make more money. The documents prove this over and over again,” Engoron writes in the section, as pointed put by Slate’s Mark Joseph Stern. “This is a venial sin, not a mortal sin. Defendants did not commit murder or arson. They did not rob a bank at gunpoint. Donald Trump is not Bernard Madoff. Yet, defendants are incapable of admitting the error of their ways. Instead, they adopt a ‘See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil’ posture that the evidence belies.”
READ MORE: ‘Putin Killed Navalny’: World Leaders, Experts ‘Crystal Clear’ on Kremlin Critic’s Death
“This Court is not constituted to judge morality; it is constituted to find facts and apply the law. In this particular case, in applying the law to the facts, the Court intends to protect the integrity of the financial marketplace and, thus, the public as a whole. Defendants’ refusal to admit error—indeed, to continue it, according to the Independent Monitor—constrains this Court to conclude that they will engage in it going forward unless judicially restrained.”
“Indeed, Donald Trump testified that, even today, he does not believe the Trump Organization needed to make any changes based on the facts that came out during this trial.”
CNN’s Caitlin Collins commented, “I think that [para]graph really sums up this entire thing.” She adds it explains “why we are seeing this large of a number,” referring to the $364 million fine.
Watch the video below or at this link.
Trump ruling on a “complete lack of contrition and remorse” that “borders on pathological.” “They are accused only of inflating asset values to make more money…Donald Trump is not Bernard Madoff. Yet, defendants are incapable of admitting the error of their ways.” pic.twitter.com/bTat6pXR0x
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) February 16, 2024
Enjoy this piece?
… then let us make a small request. The New Civil Rights Movement depends on readers like you to meet our ongoing expenses and continue producing quality progressive journalism. Three Silicon Valley giants consume 70 percent of all online advertising dollars, so we need your help to continue doing what we do.
NCRM is independent. You won’t find mainstream media bias here. From unflinching coverage of religious extremism, to spotlighting efforts to roll back our rights, NCRM continues to speak truth to power. America needs independent voices like NCRM to be sure no one is forgotten.
Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Help ensure NCRM remains independent long into the future. Support progressive journalism with a one-time contribution to NCRM, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you. Click here to donate by check.