Former President Trump has expressed his intention to challenge the ruling from New York Attorney General Letitia James' case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary. Trump and his legal team have appealed and requested a stay on his $454 million civil fraud judgment, with a deadline to post the bond by Monday.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Trump discussed the merger of his Trump Media & Technology Group, which includes Truth Social, now a publicly traded entity valued at nearly $8 billion. Trump highlighted his substantial cash reserves and properties with minimal debt.
Trump criticized Judge Arthur Engoron and Attorney General James, accusing them of bias and incompetence. He emphasized his plans to challenge the judgment through the court system, even up to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Trump raised concerns about the impact of the ruling on the business community in New York, claiming businesses are leaving due to the legal situation. Meanwhile, James has threatened to seize Trump's assets if he fails to post the required bond.
The ruling followed a trial stemming from James' investigation, where she had vowed to pursue legal action against Trump. Trump's comments coincided with the approval of the merger, making TMTG a publicly traded company on Nasdaq.
Trump's personal stake in the company, with a six-month lock-up on his shares, could be valued between $3 billion and $4 billion. His legal team argued that securing the full bond amount was challenging due to its unprecedented magnitude.
James criticized Trump's request for a stay as improper, suggesting alternative ways for him to secure the bond value. Trump's attorney countered, labeling James' efforts as unconstitutional in a letter to the Appellate Division of New York’s Supreme Court.