If you were Judge Arthur Engoron and Donald Trump asked you for a favor, how would you react? Keep in mind that Trump has just spent months insulting you personally, ruthlessly smearing your court, and defaming the American justice system as a whole.
That’s the predicament Engoron was faced with when Trump and his attorneys came hat in hand to request a 30-day delay on the massive $355 million fine that Engoron’s court recently leveled against the former president for fraud.
And to be clear, that’s all this amounted to: a request for a personal favor. Trump and his lawyers have no legal right to delay payment and no compelling argument for it. Perhaps not surprisingly, the judge rejected their request. In fact, he did it in the bluntest way possible, writing back in an email: “You have failed to explain, much less justify, any basis for a stay. I am confident that the Appellate Division will protect your appellate rights.”
The moment that Engoron formally enters the judgement a 30-day clock begins. Trump then has that much time to pay the money owed to the damaged party or else place it in escrow as he moves forward with the appeal process. Failing to produce the money entirely is not an option.
Of course, if Donald Trump were really the thriving billionaire he claims to be, he’d have no trouble scrounging up the money immediately. But he isn’t thriving. This colossal fine comes on the tail of a $5 million and then $83 million hit to his wallet for defaming E. Jean Carroll. On top of that, he’s drowning in criminal defense legal fees. Getting indicted is a pricey habit.
Seen in this context, it’s no surprise that Trump scrambled (in vain) to delay payment on his new fines. Most likely, he doesn’t have the liquid funds to pay them. If that’s true, the court won’t simply let him off the hook for the money. Instead, he could be forced to sell one of his beloved golf courses or hotels.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, who prosecuted and won the $355 million ruling against Trump and his company, has already voiced her intent to seize his properties if he fails to produce the cash. The damage to his pride would be incalculable and his air of invincibility would evaporate for good. Unfortunately for Trump, losing doesn’t square with his carefully fabricated strongman persona — and losing is all that he seems capable of doing these days.
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