Turner claims Trump’s NY fraud verdict is ‘threat’ to all businesses

House Intelligence Chair Mike Turner (R-Ohio) claimed Sunday that the verdict in former President Trump’s New York civil fraud case is a “threat” to all businesses after the former president and real estate mogul was ordered to pay millions after being found liable for fraud.

A judge ordered Trump on Friday to pay nearly $355 million in a case involving the conduct of his business empire, in which he was found liable for inflating the value of his properties to secure better terms on financial loans. Turner blasted the verdict on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” saying that it would threaten all businesses if the case stands after planned appeals.

“Actually, I don’t trust this court decision. You know, being a practicing lawyer in commercial transactions, I think the whole premise of the case, which all legal analysts have said is unusual, is not really justifiable,” Turner said. “We’ll have to see ultimately how the appeals run in this case. But I think if this case stands, it’s going to be a threat to really just all businesses, including those who are currently operating in New York.”

Trump’s legal team has already said they will appeal the decision.

When NBC’s Kristen Welker pressed Turner on whether the recent penalty will “undercut” Trump’s “trustworthiness as a leader,” Turner dismissed the question.

“You know, all of those issues were taken into consideration as the — as the country elected him to president last time. And his record as president is what we really need to look at. Our country was stronger. Our economy was stronger. And — and I think our border certainly being secured is probably the most important issue that Americans are going to look at,” he said.

“The 8 million people who have gone across the border during the Biden administration is absolutely an invasion. This is something that President Trump had addressed. And the fact that President Biden reversed by executive orders that — those issues that had been put in place to protect our country are going to be important to voters,” he added.

Trump railed against Judge Arthur Engoron, who issued the penalty, during his rally in Michigan on Saturday, his first public remarks on the matter.

“Our court system is a mess,” he told supporters at a rally in Waterford Township, Mich., on Saturday night. “What’s happening in our country, they have to straighten it out. All you see is bitterness and revenge and hatred. Judge Engoron just fined me $355 million for doing everything right.”