(2024-03-25) Trump New York fraud bond cut to $175 million in appeal from $454 million

A New York appeals court on Monday paused for 10 days a massive civil business fraud judgment against Donald Trump — and sharply reduced to $175 million the bond amount he will have to post to obtain a longer stay of that award. The ruling came the same day New York Attorney General Letitia James could start seizing the former president’s real estate assets and bank accounts to satisfy a $454 million and rising judgment after he failed to obtain an appeal bond. James is prevented from doing so — for now — due to the order from the five-judge panel in Manhattan Supreme Court’s appellate division, which did not give a reason for cutting the bond threshold by about 60%.

The 5 judges:

• Dianne T. Renwick: She was designated as a Justice for the Appellate Division, First Judicial Department in 2008 by Governor David Paterson.
• Anil C. Singh: In 2017, Gov. Andrew Cuomo appointed Singh to the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department.
• Lizbeth González: was appointed to the Appellate Division, First Department, by Governor Andrew Cuomo in November 2019.
• Bahaati E. Pitt-Burke: was appointed as an Associate Justice of the Appellate Division, First Department in May 2021. (by Andrew Cuomo?)
• Kelly O’Neill Levy: was first appointed to the Appellate Division, First Department in 2023 by Governor Kathy Hochul