In response to the recent ruling by New York Judge Arthur Engoron, former President Donald Trump is gearing up to post a substantial $400 million bond required for his appeal in the business fraud case, according to Trump’s lead defense lawyer, Alina Habba.
Last week, Judge Engoron ordered Trump to pay $355 million in fines, holding him and his real estate empire, the Trump Organization, accountable for fraudulently inflating the value of assets to secure more favorable loans and insurance terms. Trump, along with his legal team, has vowed to challenge the decision, pending the completion of necessary paperwork by the clerk’s office at Engoron’s courthouse.
In an interview with Fox News‘ Martha MacCallum on Monday, Habba reaffirmed the appeal plans, emphasizing the obligation to post a bond. She stated, “which is the full amount and some, and we will be prepared to do that.”
Habba clarified that the bond, to be submitted within 30 days of the verdict, would amount to nearly $400 million. This figure includes Trump’s $355 million verdict and a 9 percent post-judgment interest, to be collected by the state of New York if the appeal is unsuccessful, as reported by NBC News.
Responding to allegations that this legal action aims to put Trump out of business, Habba dismissed it as a scare tactic, asserting Trump’s strength, resilience, and financial resources. She challenged the narrative, stating, “Unfortunately, they picked the wrong guy to pick on… he’s strong, he’s resilient and he happens to have a lot of cash.”
New York Attorney General Letitia James, who initiated the civil suit, hailed Engoron’s ruling as a “massive victory,” emphasizing that no one, regardless of status or wealth, is above the law. However, Habba pushed back during the interview, inviting left-wing prosecutors to demonstrate this principle, pointing to other prominent figures who she claims have escaped legal scrutiny.
“Show me no one is above the law, Martha because I’m not seeing that,” Habba declared. “You know what I’m seeing in court… [is] the only person that is not [above the law], the only person who did nothing wrong but will still get persecuted and prosecuted, is President Trump, because they can’t beat him in November.”
