Fox News Legal Analyst Johnathan Turley told “Fox & Friends” Tuesday morning that Donald Trump's $464 million civil fraud judgment amounts to only one thing: mob justice.
Turley discussed Trump's limited legal options in response to the massive judgment against him. He bitterly criticized the ruling made by District Judge Arthur Engoron, calling it “astronomical.” He also gave a drubbing to New York Attorney General Letitia James for engaging in “mob justice” by threatening to seize Trump's assets if he doesn't pay the full amount of the judgment against him while he appeals the court's ruling. (RELATED: Giuliani Gets Devastating News)
Mediaite's Jamie Frevele has a transcript of Turley's assessment to co-hosts Lawrence Jones, Steve Doocy, Ainsley Earhardt and Brian Kilmeade:
[B]asically, his position is, “In order to get any other judge to look at what I've done to you, you've got to come up with basically a half a billion dollars just to appeal.” It's like a judge saying, “I'm going to take your house away, but you can appeal my decision, you just have to sell your house in order to do it.” It doesn't, many people look at this as a type of almost mob justice! As you know, the attorney general ran on bagging Trump. She's now pledging to seize his property just because he can't come up with this bond. At some point, the courts have got to step in and say, look, this is just simply enough. You know, you're acquiring this astronomical bond just for this guy to be able to get any other judge to look at this decision.
In Monday's court filing, Trump's legal team said he asked 30 underwriters to put up his massive bond payment – but couldn't find a single one. (RELATED: Trump's Attorneys Drop Bombshell News)
The former president's attorneys are seeking a stay of execution on the $464 million judgment, calling the requirement to post the full undertaking a “practical impossibility.”
Last month, James told ABC News that if Trump fails or refuses to pay the $354.8 million fine, plus roughly $100 million in interest, she will seize his assets – including his iconic skyscrapers.
Trump continues to deny all accusations of wrongdoing.
