Former President Donald Trump went off Tuesday morning on the judge ordering him to shore up a $454 million bond before a Monday deadline, calling the jurist a “corrupt puppet” in thrall to New York Attorney General Letitia James — and declaring that the sum is “practically impossible” to pay.
Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron decided in February Trump would have to post the money after James’ office argued the former president, 77, made false claims about his net worth on financial statements to get preferable loan and insurance terms as a part of the ongoing civil fraud case against him.
The frantic posts on Truth Social indicated Trump may be nervous about the possibility of James seizing his many luxurious properties if he fails to meet Monday’s deadline.
“Engoron laughed with disdain at the Appellate Division, his superior court, when they handed down a decision which essentially ended most of the case, and he REFUSED TO ABIDE BY IT. This is the first time something like that has ever happened in New York State. He is a Crazed, Trump Hating, Rogue Judge, has ZERO respect for the Appellate Judges, and has torn apart the Legal System in New York State, making it impossible for outside businesses to want to come there. Existing businesses will flee!!!” Trump wrote at 6:26 a.m. as part of his Truth barrage.
Trump’s legal team filed papers on Monday seeking to get out of having to pay the large sum, which his lawyers say he’s facing “insurmountable difficulties” securing despite approaching 30 firms.
His attorneys have argued he shouldn’t have to sell off his properties in a “fire sale” before the impending date, as getting them back at the same price would be nearly impossible.
“I would be forced to mortgage or sell Great Assets, perhaps at Fire Sale prices, and if and when I win the Appeal, they would be gone. Does that make sense? WITCH HUNT. ELECTION INTERFERENCE!” the former president posted.
The Republican National Committee has denied any involvement with raising funds for the case.
The presumptive GOP nominee also railed against Engoron for evaluating his lush Mar-a-Lago property at only $18 million, and not allowing him to appeal that finding before posting up the $454 million.
“Engoron will not do what the Appellate Division has ordered him to do on Statute of Limitations,” Trump wrote. “This has never happened to the Appellate Division before. Remember, he is the judge that fraudulently valued Mar-a-Lago at $18,000,000, and who was already overturned 4 times on this case, a record!”
The Trump campaign did not say if the former president is planning on paying the $454 million, but said the order would “undermine the rule of law in New York.”
“This is a motion to stay the unjust, unconstitutional, un-American judgment from New York Judge Arthur Engoron in a political Witch Hunt brought by a corrupt Attorney General,” Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement. “A bond of this size would be an abuse of the law, contradict bedrock principals of our Republic, and fundamentally undermine the rule of law in New York. President Trump will continue fighting and beating all of these Crooked Joe Biden-directed hoaxes and will Make America Great Again.”