E. Jean Carroll, in a court filing, expressed concerns about Donald Trump’s ability to pay the $83.3 million judgment awarded to her.
Trump’s legal team sought to delay payment, citing hopes of reducing or eliminating the amount through other court proceedings.
Carroll’s attorneys argued for immediate full payment, questioning Trump’s cash position and the feasibility of collecting the judgment.
Trump’s net worth is estimated at $2.6 billion, with most tied up in real estate.
Trump mentioned difficulty in obtaining a bond for a $454 million judgment in a civil fraud case.
“With respect to Trump’s ability to pay … Trump asks the Court to simply trust that he’s very rich — and that posting a bond (or other collateral) would therefore be a waste of money,” the filing read. “There are many reasons why this is wrong.”
“To begin, recent developments give rise to very serious concerns about Trump’s cash position and the feasibility (and ease) of collecting on the judgment in this case,” the filing added.
The situation is expected to change due to various factors such as Trump’s cash position, potential presidency, criminal convictions, and estate issues.
If unable to secure a bond, New York Attorney General might sell off Trump’s assets.
“Moreover, by the time the post-trial motions (or the appeal) are fully resolved, Trump may be in a very different position,” Carroll’s legal team stated.
“He could then be President of the United States; he could then be a convicted criminal serving time behind bars; or, given his advanced age, Carroll may be forced to reckon with his estate. Any of these developments could substantially complicate collection efforts here.”
Carroll was awarded the $83.3 million for defamation related to sexual assault claims against Trump in the mid-1990s.
