New York attorney general asks judge to fine Trump for ‘frivolous’ legal arguments

NEW YORK — New York Attorney General Tish James asked a judge on Tuesday to impose $20,000 in sanctions on Donald Trump, his two adult sons, their lawyers and other co-defendants for their actions in a civil fraud lawsuit scheduled to go to trial next month.

Trump and his lawyers have engaged in “frivolous conduct” by repeatedly making legal arguments that courts have already rejected, the attorney general’s office wrote.

James’ office is suing Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, some of their associates and the Trump business empire for falsifying the former president’s net worth in an effort to obtain favorable terms from banks and insurance companies. The trial is set to begin Oct. 2.

James’ office argued in its filing Tuesday that Trump, the other defendants and all of their lawyers have made the same arguments — primarily concerning whether the attorney general’s office has the standing or capacity to bring the claims against the Trumps — even though they have been rejected by courts multiple times since October 2022. The AG’s office said the Trumps used the arguments again in recent motions that are yet to be decided, including the Trumps’ motion for summary judgment and in their brief opposing the AG’s motion for partial summary judgment.

A lawyer for Trump, Chris Kise, didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

The attorney general’s office asked the court to impose penalties of $10,000 against all of the defendants collectively and another $10,000 against all of their attorneys collectively.