Trump's Real Estate Empire Committed Fraud, Judge Rules In Lawsuit: 'A Fantasy World'

Former President Donald Trump, who is facing multiple criminal indictments ahead of the 2024 election, committed fraud in New York, a judge ruled Tuesday. 

The ruling comes ahead of a civil lawsuit set to go to trial Monday, Oct. 2.

What Happened: Trump has a calendar full of court dates that range from charges related to the 2020 election and his business enterprises.

On Tuesday, a judge ruled that Trump committed fraud for multiple years while building up a real estate empire in New York.

A civil lawsuit from New York’s attorney general alleges that Trump and his company committed fraud by overvaluing his assets and net worth in attempts to get deals completed and secure financing from banks, according to the Associated Press.

Judge Arthur Engoron ruled that fraud was committed and ordered several of Trump's business licenses to be rescinded as punishment. The punishment could make it hard for Trump and his businesses to function in the state of New York.

“In defendants’ world: rent regulated apartments are worth the same as unregulated apartments; restricted land is worth the same as unregistered land; restrictions can evaporate into thin air; a disclaimer by one party casting responsibility on another party exonerates the other party’s lies,” Engoron said in the ruling. “That is a fantasy world, not the real world.”

Among the assets that were alleged to have inflated values were properties, golf courses and the Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

The Trump Organization was previously convicted of tax fraud in 2022 in a separate case in which a $1.6-million fine was levied.

Related Link: Judge Slams Trump's Attorneys In $250 Million Fraud Case, I Thought That Was A Joke 

What’s Next: The ruling by Engoron comes before a non-jury trial is set to begin Monday in the lawsuit filed against Trump by New York Attorney General Letitia James. 

Engoron’s ruling on Tuesday is for the key claim in the lawsuit; six other claims are remaining. 

James is looking for $250 million in penalties against Trump and his companies and a ban on the former president being able to do business in the state of New York. 

Engoron said the non-jury trial could last into December.

Along with the case set to go to trial Monday, Trump faces charges related to the 2020 election, hush money paid to an adult actress and the handling of classified documents.

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