Judge lowers Trump's bond to $175 million in civil fraud case

By Darren Lyn

HOUSTON, United States (AA) - A New York state appeals court on Monday reduced Donald Trump's bond from $464 million to $175 million in the former president's civil fraud case, according to media outlets.

The judge's ruling gives Trump a 10-day window to pay the $175 million bond and temporarily prevents the foreclosure of his New York properties and assests from the original ruling in the civil case. But the former president is still responsible for paying the entire $464 million settlement.

"Donald Trump is still facing accountability for his staggering fraud," said a spokesperson for New York Attorney General Letitia James in a statement. "The court has already found that he engaged in years of fraud to falsely inflate his net worth and unjustly enrich himself, his family, and his organization. The $464 million judgment – plus interest – against Donald Trump and the other defendants still stands."

Trump, while making a separate court appearance for his criminal hush money trial which will begin on April 15, told reporters that he will take care of his responsibility.

"I greatly respect the decision of the appellate division," he said. "And I'll post either $175 million in cash or bonds or security or whatever is necessary very quickly within the 10 days."

In addition to Trump getting a temporary reprieve of eviction notices from Judge Arthur Engoron's original ruling, the appeals court also paused other parts of the judgment from taking effect, including industry bans against Trump, his sons, Eric and Don Jr., and former finance executives Allen Weisselberg and Jeffrey McConney.

"Judge Engoron is a disgrace to this country, and this should not be allowed to happen," Trump said.

The reduction of the bond to $175 million gives Trump some breathing room to come up with the entire amount of the settlement. The former president's attorneys had argued that the original bond amount of $464 million was excessive and that 30 lenders had refused to approve a loan that covered such a large sum.