A New York state judge on Thursday ordered a monitor to oversee the Trump Organization’s financial statements after the New York attorney general’s office requested additional oversight to stop what they say is a decade of fraud by the former president. Donald Trump and his three grown children.   

  Judge Arthur Engoron wrote in an 11-page opinion that, given Mr. Trump’s “persistent misrepresentations throughout his views [financial statements] between 2011 and 2021, the Court finds that the appointment of an independent monitor is the most prudent and narrowly tailored mechanism to ensure that no further fraud or illegality occurs.”   

  Engoron said he would require the Trump Organization to obtain court approval before selling assets “particularly to ensure that the defendants do not break up their assets or move them outside of this jurisdiction.”   

  The judge added that Trump has been ordered to sell or transfer assets listed on his 2021 financial statement without first giving 14 days’ notice to the judge and the attorney general’s office.  The defendants are also required to provide the monitor with at least 30 days’ notice before undertaking any corporate restructuring.   

  New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a $250 million lawsuit in September against Trump, his three oldest children and the Trump Organization, alleging their involvement in a sweeping decade-long fraud.   

  Engoron’s proposal Thursday was in response to a request from James’ office, which said it was concerned the assets could be moved out of state.   

  “Today’s decision will ensure that Donald Trump and his companies cannot continue the widespread fraud we have uncovered and will require the appointment of an independent monitor to oversee compliance at the Trump Organization,” James said in a statement.  “No amount of lawsuits, delay tactics or threats will stop the pursuit of justice.”   

  James’ lawsuit alleges that Trump entities defrauded insurers and lenders by providing false financial statements when obtaining loans and contracts, especially in deals with huge commercial players such as Deutsche Bank and accounting firm Mazars.  The Trumps say the investigation is politically motivated and deny any wrongdoing.   

  A defense attorney for the Trump Organization.  argued in court Thursday that it’s routine for lenders and developers to get their own appraisals and come up with different valuations of a property during a business deal.   

  Chris Kise has argued that there is no public interest in private, high-profile “corporate titans vs. corporate titans” deals, both of which have the means and resources to investigate asset valuations as standard practice before making loans and insurance contracts.   

  “The 800-pound gorilla in this case is at what point does reasonable disagreement become fraud,” Engoron told the court.   

  Kevin Wallace of the attorney general’s office told the court Thursday, in the first hearing in this case since the suit was filed, that the office does not want to impede day-to-day operations at the Trump Org.  but he wants to know what the Trump companies are telling banks and insurers about their financial position.   

  Kise told the court Trump Org.  it would be open to him to work out a compliance order with the attorney general based on a court order.  “We are not afraid of the case.  We’re not going anywhere,” he said.   

  Kise also noted that only two Trump buildings in Manhattan that fall under the court’s jurisdiction, Trump Tower and 40 Wall Street, and their value exceed $250 million to be considered collateral.   

  The Trump Organization.  The prosecutor called the attorney general’s lawsuit a “fabricated account of grievances” at the hearing, arguing that the appointment of an observer to a private enterprise “borders on nationalization of a private enterprise.”   

  “Every business in New York state should be very, very concerned right now,” Kise said, arguing that an appointed watchdog for a private business would set a dangerous precedent.   

  Wallace told the court, “I’m not representing corporate titans” but suing the Trump conglomerate to ensure an “honest and fair business environment in the state of New York.”   

  Calling itself a cynic, the Trump Organization.  The lawyer pointed to the timing of the hearing just days before voters go to the polls where James is up for re-election.   

  Kise also said he hoped any ruling that comes out would not be used by James later in the day at a planned campaign event.   

  “It shouldn’t be about political theater,” Kise said at the hearing, before the decision was announced.   

  Engoron is giving both sides until November 15 to consider the potential screens proposed by both sides.   

  Separately, Trump filed a lawsuit in Florida state court Wednesday night seeking to block James from obtaining records from the trust that owns the Trump Organization property.  The civil suit was filed hours after a New York judge denied an attempt to move the lawsuit against James to another division of New York state court.   

  This story has been updated with additional details.