Before Donald Trump can appeal Judge Arthur Engoron's ruling, he must pay nearly half a billion dollars as a bond to New York state.
Last week, the judge ordered Trump to pay $354 million in fines, $450 million with interest, after New York attorney general's sued Trump under an obscure New York fraud statute.
Jonathan Turley points out another astonishing fact in the New York Post: before he can appeal, Trump must pay the whole fine:
Under New York law, Trump cannot appeal this ruling without depositing the full amount, including interest, in a court account. Even for Trump, $455 million is hard to come by. Likewise, a bond would require a company to guarantee payment for a defendant who has been barred from doing business in New York and is facing the need to liquidate much of his portfolio.
Nothing succeeds like excess for judges like Engoron. By imposing this astronomical figure, he can make it difficult or impossible for a defendant to appeal, absent declaring bankruptcy or selling off assets at distress prices.
The excessive fine and its basis raise serious statutory and constitutional questions. Many of us believe it should be substantially reduced or tossed out entirely.
This article originally appeared in Great America News Desk. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News. Republished with permission.
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