The NY Fraud Trial & Business Empire (2019-2024)

The sprawling investigation and trial exposing decades of financial fraud at the heart of the Trump business empire. New York Attorney General Letitia James began investigating in 2019 after Michael Cohen testified about Trump inflating assets for loans and deflating for taxes. The Trump Organization was convicted on 17 felony counts of tax fraud in January 2023. In September 2023, Judge Arthur Engoron ruled Trump had committed fraud by inflating asset values - including claiming Mar-a-Lago was worth $739 million when county assessors valued it at $18 million. The civil trial featured Trump storming out, attacking the judge and clerk on social media, and facing gag order violations. In February 2024, Trump was ordered to pay $354 million plus interest - over $450 million total. The ruling threatened his ability to do business in New York and exposed the myth of his self-made wealth.