Donald Trump said he could lose his real estate empire “forever” if he’s forced to mortgage or sell his properties to pay his $464 million bond in the New York civil fraud case.
Trump was ordered to pay nearly $355 million in penalties in his fraud case last month. He is appealing the ruling but must put up the bond in order to have the appeal go forward.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump called Judge Arthur Engoron, “a true Trump Hater” who “picked a number out of THIN AIR” and forcing him to obtain a bond that “is not possible” given that underwriters are seeking cash and not property.
“If I sold assets, and then won the Appeal, the assets would be forever gone,” Trump said. “Also, putting up money before an Appeal is VERY EXPENSIVE. When I win the Appeal, all of that money is gone, and I would have done nothing wrong. The Crooked Judge, who has already been overturned 4 times on this case (a record!), fully understands this. He gave us a demand which he knows is impossible to do.”
In a court filing on Monday, Trump’s attorney revealed that they could not find an insurance company to underwrite the bond. Trump has until Monday to put up the $454 million bond, failure to do so may result in New York Attorney General Letitia James potentially seizing his assets even as the appeals process plays out.
James’ office has already taken initial steps to potentially seize the former president’s assets.
New York State registered the judgement in Westchester County just outside Manhattan, a sign that Trump’s properties in the area– Trump National Golf Club Westchester and the mostly undeveloped 212-acre Seven Springs estate– are at risk of possible seizure.
