Trump may be planning to let his properties be seized by New York Attorney General Letitia James, with the intention to fight to get them back at the Supreme Court.
Faced with a $464 million civil judgment after losing the business fraud case brought by James, Trump's attorneys have now told the court that he has no way to obtain the bond necessary to cover it while he appeals the ruling, which opens up the possibility James could seize his properties.
That might be an outcome he's accepted at this point, the New York Post reported.
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"While some reports have raised speculation that Trump may 'go nuclear' with a Chapter 11 filing to protect his prize real estate assets across Manhattan, experts said bankruptcy would create unwelcome complications as the 2024 election season comes to a head," according to the report.
"Rather, Trump may be planning to "let the deadline pass, leaving it to New York Attorney General Letitia James to seize Trump’s bank accounts or buildings — including Trump Tower, from where he declared his 2016 presidential run, and which famously includes his personal penthouse."
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Trump has reportedly entertained this idea "partly because he believes the chances are good that he could recover the assets on appeal, even if he is forced to take his case to the US Supreme Court, according to friends."
At the trial, James demonstrated to Judge Arthur Engoron how Trump and his two adult sons systematically lied about property valuations to lessen tax liabilities and interest payments, leaving banks and government agencies shortchanged. Trump continues to deny his property values were ever fraudulent.
This is on top of the $83.3 million for which Trump was held liable in the E. Jean Carroll defamation case, which he also plans to appeal, although he did manage to secure bond in that case.
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