Donald Trump held in contempt in New York legal battle

A US judge has held former President Donald Trump in contempt for failing to turn over files for an investigation into his business practices.

Justice Arthur Engoron on Monday ordered Mr Trump pay a fine of $10,000 (£7,850) per day until he complies.

New York Attorney General Letitia James had asked the court to hold Mr Trump in contempt after he missed a March deadline to present certain documents.

Mr Trump’s lawyer said she would appeal the ruling.

“Everything that your honour and the attorney general said that we haven’t done – we have done,” attorney Alina Habba said in court.

After a “very diligent” search, there were simply no more relevant documents to provide, she said.

Ms James, a Democrat, opened a civil inquiry in 2019 into claims that – before he took office – Mr Trump, a Republican, had inflated the value of his assets to banks when seeking loans.