BREAKING: Appeals Court Rules That Trump Can Pay Smaller Bond In Civil Fraud Case

On Monday, a New York appeals court ruled that presumptive nominee Donald Trump can post a far smaller bond of $175 million to prevent the seizure of his assets by New York Attorney General Letitia James (D-NY) in the civil fraud case brought against him which resulted in Judge Arthur Engoron ordering Trump to pay a $454 million fine. Trump's attorneys noted earlier this month that it was nearly impossible to find a surety company willing to underwrite the nearly half-a-billion bond as the 45th president's legal team attempts to appeal Engoron's decision.

The requirement to pay the $454 million fine was just hours away from expiring when the five-judge panel ruled that Trump now has ten additional days to obtain the $175 million bond. The ruling was a major blow to Attorney General Letitia James, who was preparing to freeze Trump's bank accounts and seize some of his real estate.

As previously reported by the DC Enquirer, Letitia James took the first steps to seize Trump's assets last week when Trump's lawyers explained that finding an underwriter for the $454 million fine was impossible. Trump's lawyers explained earlier in the month that they have visited with dozens of surety companies to underwrite the bond but have been unable to find any help securing funding. "The amount of the judgment, with interest, exceeds $464 million, and very few bonding companies will consider a bond of anything approaching that magnitude," Trump's lawyers, who attempted unsuccessfully to post only a $100 million bond last month, wrote. The attorneys have approached 30 surety companies in an attempt to find a company that is willing to underwrite the bond. The 45th president's "ongoing diligent efforts have proven that a bond in the judgment's full amount is a 'practical impossibility,'" the lawyers explained in a court filing. "These diligent efforts have included approaching about 30 surety companies through 4 separate brokers." 

Trump took to Truth Social to respond to the appeals court's decision, writing, "Judge Engoron has refused to obey the decision of the Appellate Division relative to the Statute of Limitations. This is a confrontation between a Judge and those that rule above him - A very bad situation in which to place New York State and the Rule of Law! Engoron has disrespected the Appellate Division and its very clear and precise ruling. He should be made to do so, and at the same time, release the GAG ORDER. This is the 5th time in this case that he has been overturned, a record. His credibility, and that of Letitia James, has been shattered. We will abide by the decision of the Appellate Division, and post either a bond, equivalent securities, or cash. This also shows how ridiculous and outrageous Engoron's original decision was at $450 Million. I DID NOTHING WRONG, AND NEW YORK SHOULD NEVER BE PUT IN A POSITION LIKE THIS AGAIN. BUSINESSES ARE FLEEING, VIOLENT CRIME IS FLOURISHING, AND IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT THIS BE RESOLVED IN ITS TOTALITY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU!"

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