Trump’s Business To Be Overseen By Independent Monitor During Trial, Judge Rules

A New York state judge ordered on Thursday that former President Donald Trump‘s business be overseen by an independent monitor following allegations that the Trump Organization has been overstating its assets.

State Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron signed off on a preliminary injunction in a civil suit the New York Attorney General Letitia James filed in September against the company. James accused Trump and three of his children of inflating assets to take advantage of favorable loan agreements.

The investigation identified over 200 instances of fraud over ten years.

The order requires a 14-day notice to the court before Trump can dispose of any “non-cash asset” listed in the company’s financial statement. The company must also make the monitor aware of all its assets in 30 days.

James, who is running for reelection, quickly celebrated the decision while Trump and his lawyers accused her of trying to score political points ahead of the Election Day on Tuesday.

“Time and time again, the courts have ruled that Donald Trump cannot evade the law for personal gain,” James said in a statement. “Today’s decision will ensure that Donald Trump and his companies cannot continue the extensive fraud that we uncovered and will require the appointment of an independent monitor to oversee compliance at the Trump Organization. No number of lawsuits, delay tactics, or threats will stop our pursuit of justice.”

Trump issued a statement calling the judge a “puppet” of the attorney general. Later, in a rally in Iowa, the former president accused James of weaponizing the Justice Department.

“They’re weaponizing the Justice Department,” he said. “They weaponized things that are not supposed to be weaponized,” Trump continued. “Companies are already fleeing New York, as you probably read. What they’re doing in New York is unbelievably sad, and it’s all coming from Washington D.C.”