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New York Post
3 days ago
- Business
- New York Post
Trump still waiting on ruling of $454M civil fraud judgment appeal, sparking debate over judicial bias: ‘Politics is interfering'
President Trump has been waiting a whopping 293 days for a five-judge panel's decision on his appeal of the massive $454 million civil fraud judgment won last year by state Attorney General Letitia James — with many experts, including Trump detractors, suspecting political motives as the average wait in the First Department appellate division is just 30 days. The oral arguments in Trump's appeal on Sept. 26, 2024, were widely seen by journalists and lawyers as sympathetic to the then-Republican presidential nominee, who is appealing the massive penalty for allegedly inflating the value of his assets to secure loans, which he denies. At least one panelist, Presiding Justice Dianne Renwick, is considered likely to rule against Trump — with a non-Trump affiliated attorney referring to Renwick as a 'political animal' appointed by Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul because of her perceived partisan reliability. 'Obviously it seems that politics is interfering with the judgment,' said Bennett Gershman, an openly anti-Trump law professor at Pace University. 'It's there. Is it inappropriate? Yes. Is it something that happens? Yes.' 3 President Trump is appealing a $454 million civil fraud judgment. REUTERS Any member of a five-judge panel can place a 'hold' on releasing a decision without having to provide an explanation, several experts familiar with the appeals process said. 'This delay is creating the perception that the presiding judge is stalling the decision to prevent a favorable decision for the president,' said a legal source who has tracked the case. Gershman, who has argued cases before the First Department and mingled with its judges at campus events, said it's impossible to know for sure what the judges are saying or thinking, but that it's implausible that the ruling and dissents aren't written. 'I don't think it's that complicated of a question that takes 293-plus days to decide. It could be one judge holding it up. It could be more than one judge,' he said. 'Judges are human beings, and they have personal ideologies and biases and all kinds of things that make their judging sometimes close to what their political feelings are.' 3 Presiding Justice Dianne Renwick, right, is seen a likely vote to uphold the verdict. She was appointed by Gov. Kathy Hohcul, left. Matthew McDermott Gershman said he personally believes Trump is guilty and that the trial court ruling by Judge Arthur Engoron, whom the president and his allies repeatedly accused of bias, should be upheld. He added, however: 'This is an extreme case where the president of the United States is being reviewed. His conduct is being reviewed by these judges and there obviously are personal and political motivations that might interfere with their judgment even if it's unconscious. I think this case is a pretty good example of how it can happen and play out in the real world.' Several attorneys familiar with the work of the First Department, which is one of four appellate divisions in the state, requested anonymity to share their insights on the unusually long delay. 3 New York Attorney General Letitia James brought the fraud case against Trump, arguing he inflated the value of his assets. AP An attorney who does not represent Trump told The Post that data from the past 18 months indicate that the average time for the division to issue an appeals ruling is just under 30 days from oral arguments. Signed decisions average longer – 140 days. That source said that Trump's appeal is currently the only one pending in the First Department that's older than a couple months and that it's 'not even remotely close to anything.' 'The [presiding justice] is a political animal. I mean, she is. And so I would be surprised if there wasn't some political angle to this,' he added. Judge David Friedman, another member of the panel, appeared closely aligned with Trump's arguments last September — and two other panelists are speculated to be leaning his way, though oral arguments aren't always a clear indicator of results. Friedman, 74, is a Democrat appointed by Republican Gov. George Pataki in 1999 and is expected to leave the bench Dec. 31. 'If he's holding the majority, and I assume, based on the oral argument, that he's holding the majority, she could try and wait him out, which would be a scandal of epic proportions,' said one source. White House sources in April claimed that Hochul told Trump 'I control the judges' during a February meeting in the Oval Office, which Hochul denied at the time. 'Hochul, who controls the judges, is demanding President Trump's help on congestion pricing, on wind farms, on energy and so much more while she keeps this nonsense case over the president's head. That is pure extortion,' an attorney familiar with the case claimed without offering evidence. Hochul's office, James' spokespeople and the First Department did not respond to requests for comment. A Trump legal team spokesman said: 'Letitia James' failed political crusade against President Trump is one of the most outrageous examples of the discredited radical lawfare campaign against the president. Her 'case' should have never seen the light of day, it is entirely phony, it is barred by the statute of limitations and it relies on her intentionally dishonest valuation of one of the most desirable properties in the world, Mar-a-Lago… at a ridiculous $18 million, while it is worth 10 times that.' The Trump spokesman alleged a 'multitude of other fatal errors and lies' and said 'it is time for the New York courts to finally step in and end this witch hunt once and for all.' The delay is costing Trump a significant but unknown amount of money in attorney fees and bond costs that he may never recoup. Once a ruling is released, there's likely to be another appeal by the losing party to the New York Court of Appeals, which is likely to have the final say unless the US Supreme Court decides there's a federal claim to address. There's not a unanimous agreement on why the First Department ruling is taking so long. One Manhattan legal source familiar with the system said 'I think the most likely explanation for the delay in the case is that there's a dissent of one or more judges and it's been a spirited exchange of views. This process can take a long time when there's dissent and the dissent makes strong arguments.' Columbia University law professor John Coffee offered a different theory — speculating that the appeal may be taking abnormally long due to analysis of the massive sanctions. 'While a split panel may take a longer time, 293 days seems too long to explain on that basis alone,' Coffee said. 'The leading issue may be the amount of the damages, as appellate courts are more apt to intervene there than on issues that clearly belong to the jury.' One of the lawyers who spoke to The Post said that the unusual delay is likely to loosen lips at the courthouse if it drags on much longer. 'The building has so far been fairly tight about this case,' he said. 'But, you know, people talk. Sooner or later, I think that will come out.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
David Hogg-backed candidate eyes upset in Democratic congressional primary
A 25-year-old social media influencer and progressive activist is hoping to follow in Zohran Mamdani's footsteps by pulling off a stunning, come-from-behind victory in a high-profile Democratic Party congressional primary. Deja Foxx is the youngest of the five candidates running in Tuesday's primary in the race to fill the seat of the late Democratic Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona, who died in March from complications related to cancer treatment. The winners of the Democratic and Republican primaries will face off on Sept. 23 in a special election to serve the final 15 months of Grijalva's term in Arizona's 7th Congressional District, a heavily blue district that stretches from Tucson to Yuma and includes almost the entire length of the state's southern border with Mexico. Rep. Raul Grijalva Of Arizona Dead At Age 77 "This moment calls for more than a politician. You deserve a fighter," Foxx said in a social media post. "This is more than a campaign. This is a movement. This is a fight for our future." Foxx, who went viral as a teenager for confronting then-Republican Sen. Jeff Flake over the issue of reproductive rights, enjoys the support of gun-control crusader David Hogg, who recently stepped down from his position as a Democratic National Committee vice chair after upsetting party leaders for his efforts backing primary challenges against what he called "asleep at the wheel" older, longtime incumbents in safe, blue districts. Read On The Fox News App Head Here For The Latest Fox News Reporting On David Hogg Hogg, who campaigned with Foxx this past weekend across the district, predicts she will "make history in Southwest Arizona." Additionally, he compared her surging poll numbers in the final days of the primary campaign to that of Mamdani, the 33-year-old Ugandan-born state lawmaker who topped former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and nine other candidates last month to win the Democratic nomination for mayor of New York City. Similar to the New York City mayoral primary, the contest in southern Arizona will be viewed by many political pundits as a barometer of where the Democratic Party is headed as the party deals with longstanding divisions between its establishment and outsider, and progressive and moderate wings. The frontrunner in the race appears to be 54-year-old former Pima County Supervisor Adelita Grijalva, who is the daughter of the late congressman. She enjoys the backing of some of the state's top Democrats, including Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, state Attorney General Kris Mayes and former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. Grijalva is also supported by two top progressive champions – Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York – who both backed Mamdani in the New York City mayoral primary. Former state Rep. Daniel Hernandez is also contending for the nomination. He's well-known in Arizona for helping to save the life of former Democratic Rep. Gabby Giffords during a horrific 2011 shooting in Tucson, when he was serving as an intern to the congresswoman. But Giffords endorsed Grijalva in the primary race. Indigenous activist and scholar Jose Malvido Jr. and former healthcare executive Patrick Harris Sr. are also running for the Democratic nomination in the majority-Hispanic district where Democrats outnumber Republicans by a nearly two-to-one margin. More than $2 million has been dished out to run ads in the Democratic primary, with some of the money coming from outside groups. Contractor and small business owner Daniel Butierez, restaurant owner Jorge Rivas and general contractor and vehicle accessory business owner Jimmy Rodriguez are vying for the Republican congressional nomination in the district. Polls in the district close at 7 p.m. local time, which is 10 p.m. ET, and no results will be released until an hour after the polls article source: David Hogg-backed candidate eyes upset in Democratic congressional primary
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First Post
6 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
Did Secret Service fail? What Senate report reveals about assassination attempt on Donald Trump
The Senate has reported its findings on US President Donald Trump's assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, a year ago. The report reveals that the Secret Service, responsible for the security of presidential candidates, did not properly respond to direct threats before the assassination attempt read more US President Donald Trump is surrounded by US Secret Service agents at a campaign rally. File image/AP A congressional inquiry into the attempt to assassinate US President Donald Trump at a campaign rally a year ago on Sunday lamented 'inexcusable' failures in the Secret Service's operations and response, and called for more serious disciplinary action. On July 13, 2024, a gunman shot the then-Republican presidential candidate during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, grazing his ear. One bystander was killed and two other people, in addition to Trump, were wounded before a government sniper killed the gunman, 20-year-old Thomas Crooks. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'What happened was inexcusable and the consequences imposed for the failures so far do not reflect the severity of the situation,' said the report released by the US Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The dramatic incident energised Trump's bid to return to the White House, with his campaign using a photo of him bloodied and pumping his fist as he was hurried offstage to woo voters. The report did not shed new light on the gunman's motive, which still remains a mystery, but accused the Secret Service of 'a cascade of preventable failures that nearly cost President Trump his life.' US President Donald Trump being escorted to a motorcade following an attempted assassination at a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania. File image/AP 'The United States Secret Service failed to act on credible intelligence, failed to coordinate with local law enforcement,' said the committee's Republican chairman Rand Paul. 'Despite those failures, no one has been fired,' he added. 'It was a complete breakdown of security at every level – fueled by bureaucratic indifference, a lack of clear protocols, and a shocking refusal to act on direct threats. 'We must hold individuals accountable and ensure reforms are fully implemented so this never happens again.' 'Mistakes were made' The Secret Service cited communication, technical and human errors and said reforms were underway, including coordination between different law enforcement bodies and establishment of a division dedicated to aerial surveillance. Six unidentified staff have been disciplined, according to the agency. The punishments range from 10 to 42 days' suspension without pay, and all six were put into restricted or non-operational positions. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Earlier this week, while reflecting on the assassination attempt, Trump said 'mistakes were made' but that he was satisfied with the investigation. In an interview with his daughter-in-law on Fox News' 'My View with Lara Trump,' Trump said the sniper 'was able to get him from a long distance with one shot. If he didn't do that, you would have had an even worse situation.' 'It was unforgettable,' Trump has previously said of the events. 'I didn't know exactly what was going on. I got whacked. There's no question about that. And fortunately, I got down quickly. People were screaming.' On the anniversary of the attack, Trump told reporters, 'God was protecting me,' adding that he did not like to think 'too much' about the assassination attempt. 'It's a little bit of a dangerous profession being president, but I really don't like to think about it too much,' he said.
Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
'Inexcusable failures led to Trump assassination attempt'
The Secret Service 'failed to implement security measures' that could have prevented the July 2024 . PHOTO: AFP A congressional inquiry into the attempt to assassinate US President Donald Trump at a campaign rally a year ago on Sunday lamented "inexcusable" failures in the Secret Service's operations and response, and called for more serious disciplinary action. On July 13, 2024, a gunman shot the then-Republican presidential candidate during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, grazing his ear. One bystander was killed and two other people in addition to Trump were wounded before a government sniper killed the gunman, 20-year-old Thomas Crooks. "What happened was inexcusable and the consequences imposed for the failures so far do not reflect the severity of the situation," said the report released by the US Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The dramatic incident energized Trump's bid to return to the White House, with his campaign using a photo of him bloodied and pumping his fist as he was hurried offstage to woo voters. The report did not shed new light on the gunman's motive, which still remains a mystery, but accused the Secret Service of "a cascade of preventable failures that nearly cost President Trump his life." "The United States Secret Service failed to act on credible intelligence, failed to coordinate with local law enforcement," said the committee's Republican chairman Rand Paul. "Despite those failures, no one has been fired," he added. "It was a complete breakdown of security at every level-fueled by bureaucratic indifference, a lack of clear protocols, and a shocking refusal to act on direct threats. "We must hold individuals accountable and ensure reforms are fully implemented so this never happens again." The Secret Service cited communication, technical and human errors and said reforms were underway, including on coordination between different law enforcement bodies and establishment of a division dedicated to aerial surveillance. Six unidentified staff have been disciplined, according to the agency. The punishments range from 10 to 42 days' suspension without pay, and all six were put into restricted or non-operational positions. Reflecting on the assassination attempt earlier this week, Trump said "mistakes were made" but that he was satisfied with the investigation. In an interview with his daughter-in-law on Fox News' "My View with Lara Trump," Trump said the sniper "was able to get him from a long distance with one shot. If he didn't do that, you would have had an even worse situation." "It was unforgettable," Trump said of the events.
USA Today
6 days ago
- Politics
- USA Today
Secret Service did not 'act on direct threats' before Trump shooting, Senate report says
WASHINGTON — Stunning failures and inexcusable negligence by the Secret Service allowed then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump to be shot at during a Pennsylvania rally last year, according to a scathing Senate committee report released on the anniversary of the assassination attempt. The Secret Service did not act on credible intelligence and failed to appropriately communicate with local law enforcement and Trump's protective detail ahead of the July 13, 2024, event in Butler, Pennsylvania, the report released by Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rand Paul said. "This was not a single lapse in judgment. It was a complete breakdown of security at every level—fueled by bureaucratic indifference, a lack of clear protocols, and a shocking refusal to act on direct threats," Paul, a Republican U.S. senator who represents Kentucky, said. "We must hold individuals accountable and ensure reforms are fully implemented so this never happens again.' The report details threats against Trump and errors that the committee said resulted in the near assassination of a major party's presidential candidate, the death of rallygoer Corey Comperatore, and injuries to two other attendees. The committee assessed that the failures culminated in a "preventable tragedy," for which the agency has been insufficiently held accountable. Sen. Paul on Trump shooting: 'It was a cultural cover-up for the agency' Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle resigned, and six individuals received disciplinary action in the wake of the shooting that injured two additional attendees, the report said. But no one was fired, and the penalties were weaker than what the committee said it would have recommended. "Some of these people could be in charge of security for another presidential candidate. And really, that's a danger. That's not right," Paul said on the CBS show "Face the Nation." In the appearance, Paul said Cheatle "did not tell the truth" when she told Congress that no assets that were requested for the Butler rally were denied. He also said that counter-snipers were denied until the Butler rally. The report said that at least 10 requests by the division protecting Trump were denied or left unfulfilled during the presidential campaign. "I think it was a cultural cover-up for the agency. They did not want to assess blame. They did not want to look internally. And they wanted to discount any of their actions that might have led to this," Paul said on the CBS program. 'Saved for a reason': How Trump's second term is full of assassination attempt reminders Secret Service director: Agency 'implemented substantive reforms' after shooting In response to the report, Secret Service Director Sean Curran said in a statement provided to USA TODAY that the agency would continue to cooperate with the committee. "Following the events of July 13, the Secret Service took a serious look at our operations and implemented substantive reforms to address the failures that occurred that day," Curran said. The agency last week acknowledged "breakdowns in communication, technological issues, and human failure, among other contributing factors, led to the events of July 13." The attack was "nothing short of a tragedy" and "represents an operational failure," the Secret Service said. Since then, the agency said it has revised and streamlined its practices and requested additional resources to address recommendations made by Congress.
