In the high-stakes New York trial involving Donald Trump, Judge Arthur Engoron made a ruling in September, claiming that Trump had defrauded his lenders by inflating the value of his Mar-a-Lago estate by an astonishing “at least 2,300%,” compared to an appraisal by the Palm Beach County Tax Assessor. However, this ruling has faced scrutiny from various news outlets across the political spectrum, including CNN.
The criticism mainly centers around the difference between tax appraisals and market values, a well-established fact in the real estate industry. While tax assessor valuations are typically lower than market values, Judge Engoron seemed to overlook this critical distinction, despite his earlier acknowledgement that market value is the most reliable basis for assessments.
Experts in the field emphasize this distinction, noting that the uniqueness of certain properties further underscores the difference between tax appraisals and market values. This criticism extends to the judge’s valuation of Mar-a-Lago, which many believe to be unjustifiably low.
Furthermore, the New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat who campaigned on promises to prosecute Trump, is seeking to dismantle the Trump Organization, alleging that Trump falsely inflated his net worth by billions of dollars. This case puts the entire Trump enterprise at risk, as Judge Engoron has already taken steps to disrupt Trump’s extensive business holdings.
The concern is that Judge Engoron’s decision, driven by political motivations, misrepresents the market value of Mar-a-Lago, and potentially other Trump properties, jeopardizing Trump’s business interests. PolitiFact’s fact-checking response to criticism of the judge’s ruling has only added to the controversy. Facebook’s reliance on PolitiFact as a fact-checker has also led to reduced exposure for dissenting voices, further raising questions about political biases influencing the case. In essence, this case exemplifies a broader concern about politically motivated legal actions that could have significant consequences.
