A New York appeals court on Monday reduced the $454 million that former President Donald Trump was required to put up while he appeals his civil fraud case. Now Trump must put up, by April 4, a mere $175 million. The trouble is, he may not get a bond for that amount, either. Should that happen, this act of judicial mercy will end up feeling to Trump like a curse.

The stay deprives Trump of the only argument on which he was gaining any traction at all—that the amount the court required him to put up was excessively high. Four hundred and fifty-four million was indeed an unusually large judgment against a private corporation or individual. (The distinction between Trump and the Trump Organization is paper-thin.) Monday’s appeals court decision doesn’t reduce that judgment, as New York State Attorney General Letitia James pointed out in a written statement. But it does dramatically reduce the amount Trump needs to turn over to the state while he pursues his appeal. It also gives us some hint that the appeals court may reduce Judge Arthur Engoron’s $454 million judgment to, well, $175 million.

  • @[email protected]
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    fedilink
    89 months ago

    The only semi good thing we have is that he’s old. He’s clearly losing his shit, and broke. It won’t be long before he’s either six feet under from a McHeartattack or laying in a bed not able to recognize his own family. I hope it’s long and painful.

    • @brygphilomena
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      89 months ago

      I hope it quick and soon.

      I’m sick of playing this game. He is a clear threat to democracy and America itself.

      • @[email protected]
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        fedilink
        39 months ago

        His speeches are becoming completely unhinged, and there are a lot of times he starts turning red in the face from a combination of massive doses of adderral and high blood pressure.

        He probably gets daily injections of Wegovy and Statins at this point, no idea how he keeps going.