The judge presiding over former President Trump's civil fraud trial has denied a request from Trump's lawyers to postpone the enforcement of a $450 million record decision against him. The judge, Arthur Ingeron, stated that Trump's defense team failed to provide sufficient justification for the delay. This decision comes after New York Attorney General Letitia James announced plans to seize Trump's assets, including his properties, if he fails to pay the fine.
Without the requested delay, Trump now has about a month to appeal the decision and post a bond to protect his assets. Experts suggest that Trump may need to deposit the full $450 million to secure the bond, a sum that exceeds his reported cash and liquid assets of $400 million. If Trump were to declare bankruptcy, the enforcement of the judgment would be paused but not eliminated.
Concerns have been raised about the potential economic impact of the court's ruling. Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush warned that upholding the decision could lead to fear of arbitrary enforcement against entrepreneurs and individuals engaging in political activities. Critics are calling for the decision to be reversed on appeal as the situation continues to unfold.
