New York Governor Kathy Hochul tries to soothe business owners’ anxiety over Donald Trump’s $355 million ruling

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said on Sunday that the $355 million fine imposed on Donald Trump for fraud would not affect the state’s business climate, as most local entrepreneurs follow the law.

“I understand [that the Trump ruling might make New York business people fearful], but this is really an extraordinarily unusual circumstance that the law-abiding, rule-following New Yorkers who are businesspeople have nothing to worry about because they’re very different from Donald Trump and his behavior,” Hochul told WABC 770 radio’s ‘Cats Roundtable’.

Hochul said she had no role in deciding the size of the fine, which was determined by Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron, who found that Trump inflated his net worth by billions of dollars to deceive banks and insurers.

“The governor of New York does not have a say in the size of a fine. And we want to make sure we don’t have that level of interference,” Hochul said.

“You do not want me as governor to be telling judges that I’m going to overrule their decisions. We need a clear separation of powers,” she added.

New York City ‘not going to get hit’ any errant: Hochul

Hochul assured New York merchants that they had nothing to fear, as they were “by and large honest people” who followed the rules and the law.

“This judge determined that Donald Trump did not follow the rules.”

The fine, which Trump plans to appeal, could force him to sell some of his properties in New York, including Trump Tower. He has already sold his Ferry Point golf course in The Bronx to Bally’s.

Hochul also said she would support tougher penalties for reckless e-bike, scooter and cyclist riders, and oppose any MTA fare hike.