Former US President Donald Trump has won a legal victory in the New York Court of Appeals, which is unrelated to his recent conviction for falsifying business records. The court has ruled that Trump may sue his niece, Mary Trump, for providing information related to his taxes to The New York Times in 2018, according to Reuters.
The Appellate Division in Manhattan found a “substantial” legal basis for Donald Trump to claim that his niece violated confidentiality provisions of a 2001 settlement over the estate of his father, Fred Trump Sr. A five-judge panel said it was unclear whether Mary Trump’s disclosures were subject to confidentiality or how long both sides intended the provisions to remain in effect. However, the court signaled that Trump is unlikely to be awarded anything close to the $100 million he is seeking.
Mary Trump’s attorney, Anne Champion, expressed confidence that her client would be vindicated as the case proceeds. In contrast, Alina Habba, the former president’s attorney, stated that she looked forward to resuming the suit to ensure Mary Trump is held fully accountable for her breach of contract.
The decision upheld a June 2023 ruling by Justice Robert Reed of the state Supreme Court. Reed also dismissed Donald Trump’s claims against The New York Times and three reporters, and in January ordered him to pay $392,639 of their legal fees. In November 2022, Reed dismissed Mary Trump’s separate lawsuit accusing her uncle and two of his siblings of defrauding her out of a multi-million-dollar inheritance.
Legal expert and constitutional law professor Jonathan Turley believes that there are grounds for an easy reversal on procedural and constitutional grounds following Trump’s guilty verdict in his hush money trial. He cited several issues, including the jury instructions and potential federal constitutional violations. Despite these concerns, Turley remains optimistic about the possibility of a successful appeal for Trump.
