Former US President Donald Trump and his family firm have been found guilty of fraud in a civil lawsuit filed by Attorney General Letitia James, who accused him of illegally claiming greater assets and net worth.

The decision was made by Judge Arthur Engoron of the New York state court in Manhattan, VOA reported.

James sued Trump in September 2022, accusing him and the firm of lying for a decade about the value of their assets and the net worth of the 45th US president in order to get better terms for bank loans and insurance.

She said Trump inflated his own net worth by as much as $2,23 billion, and by one measure as much as $3,6 billion, on annual financial statements provided to banks and insurance companies.

The attorney general said the "inflated" assets included Trump's Mar-a-Lago property in Florida, his Manhattan loft apartment and various office buildings and golf courses.