Trump pushes for delay in fraud trial ruling. Letitia James says she’s prepared to seize his assets

Attorneys for Donald Trump are pushing the judge overseeing a massive fraud case against the former president to delay a more than $355m judgment against him.

New York County Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron isn’t convinced.

Mr Trump’s legal team is arguing that New York Attorney General Letitia James – whose office launched a three-year investigation and lawsuit that sparked a months-long civil trial against Mr Trump and his co-defendants – should have consulted with his lawyers on the terms of the judgment.

In an email exchange with Trump family attorney Clifford Robert on Wednesday, Judge Engoron said there is “no need for a motion or conference” to review the terms of his judgment because it already mirrors the bulk of the attorney general’s proposal.

Ms James’s office fired back on Thursday, telling the judge and Mr Trump’s attorneys that there is “no room for further debate”. Mr Trump and his co-defendants also have “no basis” for pausing the judgment, which the court has “already declined to grant,” according to state attorney Andrew Amer.

On Thursday, the judge told attorney that “the proposed judgment accurately reflects the spirit and letter” of last week’s decision.

“Accordingly, I intend to sign the proposed judgment this morning and to send it to the Clerk for further processing,” he wrote.

In another message on Thursday, after another objection from Mr Robert, the judge wrote: “You have failed to explain, much less justify, any basis for a stay. I am confident that the Appellate Division will protect your appellate rights.”

Meanwhile, daily interest on Mr Trump’s post-trial judgment is nearly $88,000, on a total judgment reaching nearly $455m as of 22 February.

Judge Engoron’s 92-page ruling finds Mr