Trump starts the week in NY court, faces two big decisions

Published: Mar. 25, 2024 at 6:35 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - With the clock ticking, former President Donald Trump avoided a legal and financial blow on Monday in his civil fraud case.

A New York appeals court reduced the money Trump owes for bond in his civil fraud trial. What was supposed to be $454 million posted on Monday is being reduced to $175 million which he has 10 more days to pay.

Trump detailed on Monday how he plans to pay his bond. “I greatly respect the decision of the appellate division and I’ll post either $175 million in cash, or bonds, or securities or whatever is necessary very quickly within the 10 days,” he said.

The bond needs to be posted to pause the judgment from Judge Arthur Engoron, who ruled Trump and his associates inflated assets for years in exchange for favorable treatment from insurance companies and banks. Trump is appealing the ruling but must post bond to avoid having his assets seized — which New York’s attorney general promises to do.

Just up the street, Trump will appear in a different court Monday for a hearing in his criminal trial surrounding alleged hush money payments sent to suppress information related to an affair with the adult film actress Stormy Daniels.

That trial is now set to begin April 15. It was supposed to begin on Monday but prosecutors requested a delay as they sift through new evidence. Trump maintained his innocence and called the case election interference.