Former President Donald Trump and New York Attorney General Letitia James, in separate media appearances, addressed the ruling Friday evening, trading barbs while reacting to the judgment.
Speaking from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, Trump said he had to pay a fine for “having built a perfect company.” Accusing both James and Judge Arthur Engoron of being politically motivated, Trump denied committing any fraud and said he plans to appeal.
Meanwhile, in New York, James lauded the ruling as a victory for all Americans and the principles of equal justice under the law — saying “former presidents are no exception.”
“The scale and scope of Donald Trump’s fraud is staggering — and so, too, is his ego and his belief that the rules don’t apply to him,” he said.
James also heralded Judge Engoron’s penalties as an effective remedy to “ensure this fraud cannot continue.”