On Friday, March 8, former US President Donald Trump posted a $91.63 million bail in support of his appeal of a Manhattan jury’s verdict that found him guilty of defaming author E. Jean Carroll.
It is anticipated that Trump will be able to prevent the penalty from being applied until he files a challenge to the January decision at the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit by posting the bail.
After a federal judge found Trump liable for repeatedly defaming Carroll, whom a previous jury found had been sexually assaulted inside a department store fitting room, calling her a “whack job” who should “pay dearly” and claiming that she had made up her allegation to get publicity for her book, Trump was ordered to pay the enormous sum at a trial to determine damages.
Trump’s bond was underwritten by the insurance company Chubb, and the former president signed it on Tuesday. Chubb will only secure the appeal of the $83.3 million decision under the provisions of the bond; no further appeals will be secured.
Because the district court often asks a party to post 110% of the amount, the bond size is larger than the judgment.
A representative for Chubb declined to comment in a statement on the details of Trump’s bond.
“As a matter of policy, we do not comment on client-specific information,” the spokesperson said. “Our surety division provides appeal bonds in the normal course of business. These bonds are an ordinary and important part of the American justice system, protecting the rights of both defendants and plaintiffs.”
In addition, Trump has until March 25 to contribute an additional $454 million to the New York attorney general’s civil fraud action.
Trump has said that the jury award in Carroll’s case is excessive and ought to be lowered. Carroll’s attorneys argued to the jury throughout the trial that Trump need to pay a hefty price in damages in order to truly make him stop spreading false information.
As he runs for president again, Trump must contend with growing legal bills from the four criminal cases he is now facing in addition to the two rulings against him.
