Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as he arrives at a Manhattan courthouse, for the trial of himself, his adult sons, the Trump Organization and others in a civil fraud case brought by state Attorney General Letitia James, in New York City, U.S., October 2, 2023.
Brendan Mcdermid | Reuters
Former President Donald Trump has not shown that he has enough cash to cover the full amount of a $464 million civil fraud judgment if he loses his appeal, New York’s chief law officer warned in a court filing Monday evening.
New York Attorney General Letitia James raised that concern as she argued that Trump and his co-defendants should be required to post cash or bonds covering the entire fraud judgment, if they want to pause it from coming due while they challenge the ruling.
“Defendants have never demonstrated that Mr. Trump’s liquid assets—which may fluctuate over time—will be enough to satisfy the full amount of this judgment following appeal,” James told a New York appeals court.
Trump’s real estate holdings may also decrease in value as the appeal drags on, while post-judgment interest continues to rack up, she wrote.
His finances could be further strained by his other civil and criminal legal battles, James added, including a January jury verdict ordering him to pay $83.3 million in damages for defaming writer E. Jean Carroll.
Trump “has substantial liabilities that may reduce his liquid assets further, including other outstanding money judgments against him, and he faces multiple criminal indictments,” she wrote, pointing to that verdict.
Without a full bond, the civil fraud defendants — Trump, his two adult sons, his company and its top executives — might also try to “evade” or exacerbate enforcement of the judgment if they lose the appeal, James warned.
She urged the appeals court to reject Trump’s bid to stay the judgment with a $100 million bond, less than a quarter of the total amount awarded by Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron.
Attorneys for…
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