Trump can’t postpone paying $355M judgment in NY fraud case, judge rules
Former President Donald Trump lost a bid Thursday to postpone the New York court ruling forcing him to cough up $355 million and banning him from doing business in the state for three years.
Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron said Trump’s attorneys hadn’t provided a good reason as to why he should delay his judgement from last week in the civil fraud case against the ex-president, the Trump Organization and others.
“You have failed to explain, much less justify, any basis for a stay,” Engoron wrote in a Thursday email filed in the case. “I am confident that the Appellate Division will protect your appellate rights.
On Tuesday, the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James — which prosecuted the case against the real estate tycoon — submitted to the court a proposed judgment order based on Engoron’s Friday ruling.
But Trump lawyer Clifford Robert responded Wednesday claiming the AG’s Office didn’t follow proper court procedure and made errors in the proposed judgment.
He also argued that the defense side should have time to submit a “proposed counter-judgment.”
Engoron signed the judgment Thursday.
The court clerk will then sign off on it, after which Trump and co-defendants — including his two eldest sons Eric and Donald Trump Jr. — will have 30 days to file an appeal.
Trump’s side has said they plan to fight Engoron’s ruling.
In order to appeal, the 2024 GOP presidential frontrunner — who has insisted he did nothing wrong and blasted the case as a politically-motivated “witch hunt” — will need to turn over the $355 million, plus 9% interest, as collateral.
James has said that if Trump doesn’t come up with the cash he’s been ordered to pay, she’s ready to seize his assets, including some of his most prized Big Apple properties to cover the cost.
