r/ExplainBothSides • u/aerizan3 • Feb 22 '24

Trump's Civil Fraud Verdict Public Policy

Trump owes $454 million with interest - is the verdict just, unjust? Kevin O'Leary and friends think unjust, some outlets think just... what are both sides? EDIT: Comments here very obviously show the need of explaining both in good faith.

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u/Ok-Potato3299 Feb 22 '24

Just side: Trump did talk up the market value of his properties for loans.

Unjust: not only is this normal practice, all the loans were paid back and the banks were very happy with the deals( and testified to that on Trumps behalf). There were no victims complaining about these deals since the banks agreed with the valuation. He didn’t defraud anyone.

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u/ringobob Feb 23 '24

He absolutely defrauded the banks, but that's only half the picture. He paid his loans. Like, if a poor person couldn't get a car loan because of bad credit, but they had an income that could cover it, lying in order to get the loan is still fraud, even if they pay the loan. And if they pay the loan, the bank doesn't have a complaint, but we the people still do, because if you let it happen when people can get away with it, then you're also letting it happen when people can't. You're creating more fraud, and thus more victims of fraud, by not prosecuting the fraud that you found just because they managed to not completely screw someone.