After losing his civil fraud trial, Donald Trump is allegedly having major difficulty securing the bond for Judge Arthur Engoron’s ruling.
In February, Engoron ruled that Trump and his sons Eric and Donald Trump, Jr. must pay $464 million for crimes that include inflating the former president’s net worth. Trump was stated to have used a real estate tactic known as “comparables” to misrepresent the worth of his properties by comparing them to other properties worth considerably more money.
Despite Trump claiming to have properties worth billions of dollars, he has failed to pay the amount owed to the courts. If he fails to pay, his assets could be frozen as a way of using his property as collateral. New York Attorney General Letitia James could consider using subpoenas and a seizing of assets.
Engoron has expressed bewilderment at Trump’s lack of remorse for his actions.
“There is overwhelming evidence from both interested and non-interested witnesses, corroborated by documentary evidence, that the buck for being truthful in the supporting data valuations stopped with the Trump Organization, not the accountants,” stated Engoron.
He continued, “Defendants’ refusal to admit error — indeed, to continue it, according to the Independent Monitor — constrains this Court to conclude that they will engage in it going forward unless judicially restrained.”
Throughout the case, Trump had been hit with repeated gag orders for outbursts and attacks against members of the court.
For example, after hearing his former attorney Michael Cohen's testimony, Trump made statements, both in-person and on social media, claiming that someone very "partisan" was sitting next to the judge. These accusations put the former president in trouble as he ran the risk of receiving a financial penalty for his words.
Trump is still facing four separate lawsuits for federal election interference, mishandling classified documents, election racketeering and civil fraud.