A lawyer for former President Donald Trump filed an appeal of a ruling to hold Trump in contempt of New York trial court. The ruling, issued by Manhattan Judge Arthur Engoron, includes a $10,000 daily fine. Engoron issued the ruling after Trump allegedly failed to comply with a subpoena for evidence in New York Attorney General Letitia James‘ civil investigation into Trump’s business dealings.
In court papers filed Wednesday, Trump lawyer Alina Habba questioned the legal basis for the ruling. She argued Trump had responded properly to the subpoena and James’ office failed to show his conduct “was calculated to defeat, impair, impede, or prejudice” its investigation.
Habba also said James’ office refused to engage in “good-faith discussions” before seeking to have Trump fined. James released a statement in response to the Trump appeal Wednesday.
“The judge’s order was clear: Donald J. Trump is in contempt of court and must pay $10,000 a day until he complies with our subpoenas,” James said in the statement. “We’ve seen this playbook before, and it has never stopped our investigation of Mr. Trump and his organization. This time is no different.”
Wednesday’s contempt ruling appeal marks the second time in two months that Trump has sought to overturn an Engoron ruling against Trump. In another subpoena fight, Trump is challenging Engoron’s Feb. 17 ruling requiring that he answer questions under oath. Oral arguments in that appeal are scheduled for May 11.
