In a legal blow to former President Donald Trump, a federal judge has rejected his attempt to delay the enforcement of an $83 million jury award in the E. Jean Carroll defamation case. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan leaves Trump with just three days to secure the funds or post a bond.
The judgment stems from a defamation lawsuit filed by E. Jean Carroll, a former Elle magazine advice columnist. The jury found Trump guilty of defaming Carroll in June 2019 when he denied raping her in the mid-1990s in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room in Manhattan.
Judge Kaplan dismissed Trump’s efforts to postpone the enforcement deadline, emphasizing that Trump’s current predicament is a consequence of his own delay in organizing his finances. The former president had since January 26 to prepare for the possibility of bonding the judgment but only filed a motion 25 days after the jury verdict.
This legal setback intensifies the financial pressure on Trump, who is already grappling with a more substantial sum in a Manhattan fraud case. The ruling underscores the urgency for Trump to secure an acceptable bond as he anticipates an appeal.
In response to Trump’s plea for an unsecured or partially secured stay pending post-trial motions, Judge Kaplan stated, ‘Mr. Trump’s current situation is a result of his own dilatory actions.’ The judge highlighted Trump’s failure to demonstrate how he might suffer ‘irreparable injury’ if required to post a bond.
This development follows Trump’s recent victory in the Republican presidential nomination race after Nikki Haley withdrew from the competition. However, the financial penalties in the civil cases pose an immediate legal challenge for Trump, with the Supreme Court’s intervention in his January 6 case potentially causing a delay until after the election.
In a separate New York fraud case, Trump faces an order to pay $464 million in penalties and interest, raising questions about his ability to raise the necessary funds after his lawyers offered less than a quarter of the amount.
The legal hurdles compound as Trump navigates a complex legal landscape, including a criminal prosecution in Georgia with uncertainties stemming from revelations about the relationship between Fulton County DA Fani Willis and special prosecutor Nathan Wade.
