New York Attorney General Letitia James has declared that she will not drop her politically motivated civil “fraud” case against President Donald Trump.
James, a Democrat, has vowed to continue pursuing her get-Trump case while she waits for the appeal court decision,
The prosecutor argues that presidents are not immune from civil litigation.
Last month, Trump and his attorneys demanded that James drop her civil fraud case against him, his family, and his businesses.
Following Trump’s historic election victory, James was urged to drop the case “for the greater good of the country.”
Trump was ordered to pay a $454 million civil fraud judgment in James’s lawsuit against him.
He has since appealed the ruling.
Judges on a New York appeals court seemed receptive to potentially reversing the judgment altogether.
However, on Tuesday, the New York attorney general’s office said James is refusing to take action to drop the case against the president-elect.
James’s office argued that presidents do not have immunity from civil litigation arising from unofficial conduct.
In a statement, the AG’s office said lawsuits “may proceed while the president is in office.”
James’s office also argued that the final judgment does not impact any conduct Trump may undertake as president.
They also said Trump’s inauguration is “irrelevant to the 14 other defendants found liable in our case.”
James’s office also said that prosecutors are now waiting for a decision on Trump’s appeal.
The NY AG argues that waiting for that decision on the civil matter “does not in any way affect Trump’s ability to serve as president.”
In a letter to Trump attorney D. John Sauer, state Deputy Solicitor General Judith Vale said there is “no basis” for the case to be dismissed.
Trump and his adult sons were found liable for fraud in February in a lawsuit brought by James.
The case was overseen by radical Judge Arthur Engoron in a New York City court.
The judge ruled that they had inflated Trump’s worth to get better loan deals.
Trump was ordered to pay $454 million plus growing interest.
It is believed the fine now stands at $486 million.
James has said previously that she will not give this up.
She warned that she is “ready to do everything in my power to ensure our state and nation do not go backward” due to a second Trump administration.
James, a career Democrat, ran her own election campaign on a promise to “get Trump” on unspecified charges.
