Mr. Wonderfuls whole argument is disingenuous.
He says forget Trump , and then goes through it all, but Trump did the fraud consistently to a level noone else would ever dream of.
Most people who do this type of fraud add 20% value perhaps to squeeze a bit more cash out of it. Trump went full on 500% valuation on things that will never add up or reach the value.
It’s a clear difference, not another one of these "both sides’ type arguments they try to lower everyone down to.
The bank accepted those numbers. The bank testified as a witness for Trump. They said they did not lose money. The forms clearly stated these were made up numbers.
Fraud typically requires a victim. This is the only fraud case I know of that there is no victim. That is the point Mr wonderful is making. We are not punishing people when all parties were fine with the deal and there is no victim.
The people of the state are the victim. While everyone else (the people) has to play by the rules, Trump chose to not play by the rules. The act alone is the unlawful activity, not the result.
The state isn’t damaged. The bank is would be the victim and they said they were not damaged. They reviewed the data, made adjustment and issued the loans.
First time there has been a victimless fraud lawsuit.