NYC appeals court cuts Trump's bond to $175 million in fraud case, holding off property seizure

NEW YORK — A New York appeals court showed Donald Trump some mercy Monday, allowing him to post a bond of $175 million in his civil fraud case — rather than half a billion — to ward off foreclosures while he appeals.

In a brief order, the 1st Department Appellate Division agreed to pause enforcement of the more severe elements of the devastating court decision handed down last month finding Trump liable for fraud if he secures a portion of the money he’s been ordered to pay within 10 days.

The order means Trump won’t have to worry that eviction notices will go up on his prized properties while he appeals Judge Arthur Engoron’s Feb. 16 judgment, which found him liable for large-scale fraud, provided he pays the $175 million on time. It came down within the final hours of a grace period for him to secure the judgment and while the former president was sitting in court in his criminal hush money case.

Asked for his response to the ruling, Trump gave the New York Daily News an exaggerated thumbs-up.

A spokeswoman for New York Attorney General Letitia James said Trump was “still facing accountability for his staggering fraud.”

“The court has already found that he engaged in years of fraud to falsely inflate his net worth and unjustly enrich himself, his family, and his organization. The $464 million judgment — plus interest — against Donald Trump and the other defendants still stands,” James’ spokeswoman said.

The appeals court also paused other parts of Engoron’s judgment from taking effect, including industry bans against Trump, his sons Eric and Don Jr., and former finance executives Allen Weisselberg and Jeffrey McConney. They said the extended and enhanced role of court-appointed monitors to babysit Trump’s company would remain in place.

Lawyers in Trump’s fraud case did not immediately respond to requests seeking comment.

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