Donald Trump catches a break in a $454 million fraud case. The court lowers the bond amount, and his ‘hush money’ trial is set for April 15.
On Monday, Donald Trump experienced a mix of legal outcomes, with a lifeline provided in his efforts to resist a $500 million fraud judgment, while a New York judge dismissed attempts to postpone a separate criminal trial.
A New York state appeals court reduced the initially daunting $454 million bond payment due on Monday to $175 million, granting the former president an additional 10 days to make the payment.
The Republican presidential candidate received unexpectedly favorable news regarding his New York civil fraud case while he was present in court for another matter—a hearing related to his impending criminal trial concerning the payment of hush money to a porn star.
Judge Juan Merchan dismissed requests from Trump’s legal team to postpone the first-ever criminal trial involving a former president for a minimum of 90 days. Instead, he mandated that jury selection commence on April 15.
Trump is charged with falsifying business records regarding payments made just before the 2016 presidential election to ensure that porn star Stormy Daniels did not disclose a sexual encounter.
“In essence, you are alleging prosecutorial misconduct against the Manhattan District Attorney’s office and the individuals handling this case, and attempting to implicate me in it,” a visibly frustrated Merchan told Trump’s lawyers during the hearing in a Manhattan courtroom.
Trump had also been confronted with a Monday deadline to settle the substantial initial bond amount while awaiting an appeal following a judge’s ruling holding him accountable for conspiring to fraudulently inflate his net worth.
Trump emphasized that he was unable to locate the $454 million, putting him at risk of having parts of his property empire confiscated by the state of New York if he failed to secure the bond.
At 77 years old, Trump expressed satisfaction with the appellate panel’s decision while condemning the hush money case as “election interference” and a “witch hunt.”
“I deeply appreciate the ruling of the appellate division, and I will promptly provide $175 million in cash, bonds, or any required security within the next 10 days,” he informed reporters.
The hush money trial, which was supposed to commence on Monday, was postponed due to the late disclosure of thousands of pages of potential evidence by prosecutors.
On Truth Social, Trump condemned both cases as politically driven assaults occurring before the November 5 presidential election, where he is expected to once more contend against incumbent Democrat Joe Biden.
“These cases are rigged, orchestrated by the White House and DOJ to interfere in the election,” Trump stated. “No wrongdoing. Our country is corrupt!”
Trump frequently criticizes a judicial system that he alleges is biased against him.
He has claimed that New York Attorney General Letitia James, who is Black, is “racist,” and has accused Judge Arthur Engeron in the civil fraud case of being “crooked.”
Last week, Trump received some encouraging financial news when it was revealed that Truth Social would soon become publicly traded through a merger, potentially resulting in billions of dollars for him.
He is unable to access the funds for six months, but it could potentially assist him in obtaining the bond.
However, if payment is not made, James could still opt to freeze his bank accounts or move forward with seizing some of his New York properties.
Trump’s legal team has exhausted all options to postpone his numerous trials, aiming to delay them until after the presidential election if feasible.
In the trial concerning Stormy Daniels, also known as Stephanie Clifford, Trump faces accusations of unlawfully using campaign funds to ensure her silence regarding an alleged sexual encounter dating back to 2006.
Had she spoken out, it could have been disastrous for Trump’s presidential aspirations, particularly following another scandal involving the married businessman’s recorded remarks boasting about being able to freely “grab” women by their genitals due to his celebrity status.
Trump is also accused of attempting to overturn the outcomes of the 2020 election and of retaining classified documents after departing from the White House.
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