NY state urges appeals court to uphold Trump's $500 mn civil fraud judgment

New York state lawyers urged an appeals court late Wednesday to uphold Donald Trump's nearly USD 500 million civil fraud judgment, arguing there's overwhelming evidence to support a judge's finding that the former president lied for years about his wealth as he built his real estate empire.

In paperwork filed ahead of oral arguments next month, New York Attorney General Letitia James' office said the current Republican nominee's appeal is awash in meritless legal arguments and ignores volumes of trial evidence showing that he and his co-defendants engaged in "fraud and illegality on an immense scale."

On appeal, defendants tellingly ignore almost all their deceptions, Assistant Solicitor General Daniel S Magy wrote in a 168-page submission to the state's mid-level appeals court known as the Appellate Division.

Trump, his company and top executives including his sons Eric and Donald Trump Jr created and used financial statements rife with blatant misrepresentations and omissions to .