Kevin O’Leary: ‘Rogue judge’ handed down Trump fraud verdict
“Shark Tank” investor Kevin O’Leary blasted the $355 million New York business fraud judgment against former President Trump on Wednesday, predicting that it will quickly be shot down on appeal.
O’Leary said the judgment came from a “rogue judge” who went far beyond the norms of the law and is putting New York business investments at risk.
“If you’re going to put billions of dollars to work somewhere in the world, the most coveted place to do it is in the United States of America. That is the brand of America,” O’Leary told Blake Burman on “The Hill on NewsNation” Wednesday. “You don’t really want to mess with that.”
“It’s a rogue judge,” he added. “In my view, that’s a rogue settlement and should be repealed, and it will be through the appellate courts.”
O’Leary has been a vocal critic of the verdict and New York Attorney General Letitia James (D), who brought the case.
James said Tuesday that she would pursue seizing Trump’s assets, including one specific Wall Street high-rise, if the former president didn’t pay up.
“Seizing assets happens in many countries where you wouldn’t want to put your money,” O’Leary said.
In the fraud case, Trump was found to have falsely altered his net worth and the value of various properties to receive more favorable borrowing terms. New York state had argued he sent the false information to banks and insurers, which the state purported was evidence of fraud.
Trump was also banned from operating businesses in New York for three years as part of the verdict against him.
O’Leary’s comments Wednesday come after he first denounced the ruling, saying he would avoid investing in New York because of the precedent the verdict sets.
“It was already on the top of the list of being a loser state. I would never invest in New York now,” O’Leary said in a Fox Business interview Monday. “And I’m not the only person saying that.”
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