A New York judge has ruled that Donald Trump “repeatedly” misrepresented his wealth – by up to 3.6billion dollars – to banks and insurers.
The decision resolves a key claim made by New York’s attorney general in her civil lawsuit against the former president.
The wrote that the documents clearly contain fraudulent valuations that defendants used in business.
It is a blow for Trump ahead of the civil trial, which begins on Monday.
Attorney General Letitia James sued Trump last September, accusing him, his two adult sons and the Trump Organization of lying about his net worth and asset values between 2011 and 2021.