Donald Trump is being fined almost £8,000 a day after a judge found him in contempt of court.
The former US president was hit with the penalty over failure to comply with a subpoena to hand over documents to investigators relating to his business empire.
Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron today told him: “Mr Trump, I know you take your business seriously, and I take mine seriously.
"I hereby hold you in civil contempt and fine you $10,000 (£7,854) a day.”
Earlier this month, New York’s attorney general Letitia James argued the former president failed to meet a court-ordered March 31 deadline to hand over the papers.
Her office wanted to view documents as part of her investigation into the Trump Organisation.
Trump’s lawyers claimed he didn’t have any of the documents requested in the civil probe.
But today, Judge Engoron ruled there was no evidence to show he had conducted a proper search of the records when he responded to James’ subpoena by claiming he had nothing to turn over.
“In particular, there is no admissible evidence of who, what, where, when and how any search was conducted,” he said, adding Trump’s excuses “just doesn’t cut it.”
“Thus Mr Trump didn’t comply."
Earlier in today's hearing, Trump’s lawyer Alina Habba argued her client had no case to answer because any documents he might have were already being turned over to James’s office through the Trump Organisation.
James began her investigation in 2019 after the former President's ex-lawyer Michael Cohen told US politicians Trump had grossly exaggerated company assets to get an advantage on loan applications, taxes and for insurance purposes.
ames then filed a lawsuit the following year against the company and the former US leader’s son, Eric Trump, claiming they were obstructing the probe.
The attorney general's office called the ruling a "major victory" in the legal battle against Mr Trump.
"Today, justice prevailed," said Ms James.
"For years, Donald Trump has tried to evade the law and stop our lawful investigation into him and his company's financial dealings.
"Today's ruling makes clear: no one is above the law."
The civil case is separate to a Manhattan criminal investigation into the Trump Organization's practices.