US court throws out $500m penalty against Trump

NEW YORK -- A New York appeals court on Thursday threw out a more than $500 million penalty plus interest against US President Donald Trump in a civil fraud case.

In the 323-page ruling by a five-judge panel, the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court upheld the verdict, saying that the size of the fine was "excessive" and that it "violates the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution."

New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit in 2022, accusing Trump and his company of overstating the value of his properties and other assets to obtain favorable bank loans or insurance terms.

In February 2024, a judge found that Trump unlawfully inflated his wealth and ordered the president to pay the penalty, which has accumulated to more than $500 million plus interest. His two sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, were also told to hand over penalties respectively.

Trump called the ruling a "total victory" in a post on the Truth Social platform. "I greatly respect the fact that the Court had the courage to throw out this unlawful and disgraceful decision that was hurting business all throughout New York State," he wrote.

The decision is "a significant legal boost for Trump, freeing him, for now, from a massive penalty that caused him financial headaches last year," The Wall Street Journal said, adding that it also underscores the controversial nature of the case, both in its underlying legal issues and the political implications.