Four days after a judge ordered former President Donald Trump to pay $354 million in his civil fraud case, New York Attorney General Letitia James told ABC News that she is prepared to seize the former president’s assets if he is unable to find the cash to cover the fine.
“If he does not have funds to pay off the judgment, then we will seek judgment enforcement mechanisms in court, and we will ask the judge to seize his assets,” James said in an interview with ABC News’ Aaron Katersky.
Trump was fined $354.8 million plus approximately $100 million in pre-judgment interest on Friday after Judge Arthur Engoron determined that he inflated his net worth in order get more favorable loan terms.
MORE: Trump civil fraud case: Judge fines Trump $354 million, says frauds ‘shock the conscience’
The former president has denied all wrongdoing and has said he will appeal.
Saying that she was “very confident” with the strength of her case on appeal, James reiterated that her office would not hesitate to seize one of Trump’s buildings — listing Trump’s 40 Wall Street skyscraper by name — if Trump is unable to find the case to cover the court-ordered disgorgement.
“We are prepared to make sure that the judgment is paid to New Yorkers, and yes, I look at 40 Wall Street each and every day,” James said of the standard court process for collecting judgments in civil cases.
James directly countered Trump’s allegation that the case lacked any victims, instead describing her case as vital to ensuring financial markets treat New Yorkers fairly.
