Donald Trump’s legal debts might now exceed a half-billion dollars

Donald Trump’s legal debts might now exceed a half-billion dollars

A New York judge ordered Trump and his companies Friday to pay $355 million in fines, plus interest, after ruling that he had manipulated his net worth in financial statements.

The stiff penalty comes just weeks after Trump was ordered to pay $83.3 million to the writer E. Jean Carroll for damaging her reputation after she accused him of sexual assault. A separate jury last year awarded Carroll $5 million from Trump for sexual abuse and defamation.

Add interest payments on top of that and the judgments could deal a staggering blow to the personal fortune that remains core to Trump’s political appeal. He has adamantly denied wrongdoing and pledged to appeal, a process that could take months or even years.

In the meantime, here’s what we know about what Trump owes, whether he’ll have to pay up, and what comes next:

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  • Varyk@sh.itjust.works
    1·
    9 months ago

    Political funds can’t be used to pay these fines. PACs apparently can pay for them, but he raised about 300 million from all sources including PACs for his first presidential campaign, so even if he manages to cajole this much away, it’s going to leave him in a substantially weaker position.

    • hitmyspot@aussie.zone
      2·
      9 months ago

      And if all the money goes to pay for fines instead of ads, he loses and the criminal charges will come to bite. His whole plan is to get elected to buy time.

    • dhork@lemmy.worldEnglish
      0·
      9 months ago

      Political funds can’t be used to pay these fines.

      Why not? Do you mean it’s illegal? Do you think that will stop him?

      • Varyk@sh.itjust.works
        0·
        9 months ago

        I mean that since political contributions cannot be used for these fees specifically, campaign funds won’t be accepted by the courts to pay these fines, if that’s what you mean.

        • girlfreddy@lemmy.ca
          0·
          9 months ago

          You’re right about campaign funds not being used, but Super PAC funds can and likely will be used … because the GOP’s adherents are a shill for mango-face.

          • BakerBagel@midwest.social
            1·
            9 months ago

            Let his Super PAC pay. It’s been gobbling up so much money that GOP organizations across the country are going broke. Trump’s legal expenses are sucking all the money from the GOP and they are ginna struggle to run effective campaigns in key races this year.