New York – Former President Donald Trump has obtained a bond worth $91.6 million to support an $83.3 million jury award granted to writer E. Jean Carroll in a defamation case. This comes after Carroll made rape allegations against Trump during a January trial. Trump’s attorney, Alina Habba, filed papers with a New York judge on Friday to show that the bond has been secured. Habba also filed a notice of appeal, indicating that Trump is appealing the verdict to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
The filings were made following Judge Lewis A. Kaplan’s refusal to delay the deadline for posting a bond. The bond is necessary to prevent immediate payment of the $83.3 million award until the 2nd Circuit can issue a ruling. Trump is under financial pressure to set aside money for both the Carroll case and a larger lawsuit in which he was found liable for lying about his wealth.
In the separate civil fraud case, a judge in New York recently rejected Trump’s request to halt collection of a $454 million penalty while he appeals. Trump now has until March 25 to pay the penalty or purchase a bond. The interest on the judgment continues to accumulate, adding around $112,000 each day.
Trump’s lawyers have asked for a stay of the judgment, citing the need for Trump to potentially sell properties to cover the penalty. However, Judge Kaplan pointed out that any financial harm to Trump was a result of his slow response to the verdict in the defamation case.
During the January trial, the jury awarded Carroll $5 million, concluding that Trump had sexually abused her in a 1996 encounter. However, the jury rejected Carroll’s rape claims. The trial focused solely on Trump’s statements in 2019 regarding Carroll.
In response to the verdict, Trump vehemently denied the claims and insisted that he did not know Carroll. The encounter in question allegedly took place in a Bergdorf Goodman store in Manhattan. Trump did not attend the trial in May but testified briefly and was frequently present at the January trial.
The bond obtained by Trump will temporarily delay the payment of the $83.3 million award to Carroll, providing Trump a chance to appeal the verdict. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will determine the outcome of the appeal.