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Donald Trump posted the $175m bond in his New York civil fraud case late on Monday, temporarily halting enforcement of the full $464m in penalties the former president faces after his company was found guilty of misrepresenting the value of its assets over a ten-year to swindle banks and insurers.
The belated bond payment came as state officials were preparing to seize Mr Trump’s properties to fulfill the judgement.
Meanwhile, the judge in the Republican presidential candidate’s hush money trial has moved to tighten his gag order in accordance with a request from Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg over Mr Trump’s continued and “vitriolic” attacks on the justice’s family.
New York Supreme Court judge Juan Merchan said that the defendant’s statements represented a “very real” threat to the integrity of the trial.
Also on Monday, the parent company of Mr Trump’s Truth Social platform lost 20 per cent of its value during trading on the Nasdaq after an SEC filing showed the company had made a $58m loss in 2023.
Having only gone public last week, it has been a volatile ride for Trump Media & Technology Group, which peaked at $79 per share on Thursday before falling to $48.66.
Truth Social: Trump announces bond placement but insists New York career was ‘only success and HAPPY BANKS’
Here’s the latest from the desk of Don, who begrudgingly announces has made his $175m bond payment in time before having one final go at Judge Arthur Engoron, state attorney general Letitia James and “the sadly failing and very troubled State of New York”.
Joe Sommerlad2 April 2024 08:15
American Egg Board forced to respond to GOP conspiracy about White House Easter event
On Monday, thousands of children and their families will gather on the White House South Lawn for the annual Egg Roll, an Easter tradition that dates back to the nineteenth century.
But this year’s celebrations have been marred as Republican politicians and commentators falsely accused President Joe Biden’s administration of banning religious themes and symbols from the celebration’s art contest — failing to note that the policy has been in place during every administration for almost 50 years.
Katie Hawkinson has the story:
Oliver O’Connell2 April 2024 07:45
Trump ‘threatens’ Biden with image of president bound and kidnapped
Mr Trump posted the video with little added commentary on Truth Social. It shows two passing trucks decked out with flags and messages including “Trump 2024”.
On the back of one of the trucks is an image of President Biden with his hands and feet tied.
Stuti Mishra has the story:
Oliver O’Connell2 April 2024 05:45
ICYMI: Trump and co-defendants appeal ruling keeping Fani Willis on Georgia election case
Oliver O’Connell2 April 2024 03:45
SNL cold open mocks Donald Trump’s scheme to sell bibles: ‘My favourite book’
Watch as Saturday Night Live mocks Donald Trump’s scheme to sell bibles. This week’s Easter-themed cold open starred James Austin Johnson as the former president peddling his branded Good Book for $60. A “resurrected Trump” returns from the dead, before shoving fellow cast-mates off the stage. “Imagine how weird it would be if I started selling bibles… well, I’m selling bibles,” Johnson says. “Sounds like a joke and in many ways it is, but it’s also very real.” Johnson goes on to say that his favourite part of the Bible is “probably the ending”.
Oliver O’Connell2 April 2024 02:45
Donald Trump hush money judge extends gag order due to ‘vitriolic’ attacks on his family
Manhattan officials accused the former president of trying to undermine the money trial with ‘dangerous and reprehensible rhetoric’.
Graeme Massie2 April 2024 01:54
Truth Social stock tanks after new SEC filings reveals company losses
Trump Media & Technology Group, the parent company of social media platform Truth Social, was down as much as 27 per cent in value by lunchtime, having opened at $61.92.
A regulatory filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission early on Monday morning showed the company had only achieved revenue of $4.1m in 2023, with net losses reaching $58.2m.
Oliver O’Connell2 April 2024 01:45
Analysis: Between Ukraine and Marjorie Taylor Greene, Mike Johnson has a tightrope to walk
Johnson’s decision to name Greene to the committee, especially after his talk with Zelensky, shows how the leader of the US House of Representatives has tried to balance keeping conservatives happy while also fulfilling his basic duties of governing: for every one act of governing, he has to pull one outrageous stunt that keeps the extremists in his conference from throwing him into the volcano the way they did his predecessors.
Graeme Massie2 April 2024 01:19
Trump hush money prosecutor asks judge for stronger gag order due to ‘extreme and deliberate provocations’
Graeme Massie2 April 2024 00:42
