- Trump claims he has nearly $500 million in cash despite being unable to pay a $454 million judgment.
- Trump, his sons, and employees were found liable for the penalty for inflating the value of Trump Organization assets.
- The New York attorney general said Trump's assets could be seized if he doesn't meet the bond.
Former President Donald Trump has claimed that he has almost $500 million in cash despite saying he can't cover a $454 million judgment in a New York civil fraud case.
"THROUGH HARD WORK, TALENT, AND LUCK, I CURRENTLY HAVE ALMOST FIVE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS IN CASH, A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF WHICH I INTENDED TO USE IN MY CAMPAIGN FOR PRESIDENT," Trump wrote in an early morning post on Truth Social on Friday.
He then claimed that the judge in the New York civil fraud case knew how much money he had and made the judgment accordingly because he wanted to take it away from him.
Last month, Judge Arthur Engoron ruled that Trump, his sons Eric and Donald Trump Jr., along with Trump Organization employees, were liable for a nearly half-billion-dollar cash penalty for conspiring to inflate the value of their assets.
Trump was found to have gained over $350 million through fraud, which, combined with interest, resulted in a total owed of $454 million as determined by the judge.
Trump's claim of how much cash he has contrasts with what his lawyers say.
His lawyers said in a March 18 filing that it would be a "a practical impossibility" for him to post the full bond, and that he had faced "insurmountable difficulties" in trying to secure a bond, despite having approached about 30 bond underwriters.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought the case against him, has said she's prepared to seize Trump's assets if he fails to put up the bond, due on Monday.
Trump denied wrongdoing and asked an appeals court to pause the judgment or reduce the bond requirement. The court has yet to make a final decision.
On Friday, Trump told Fox News Digital: "I'll fight this all the way up to the US Supreme Court if necessary."
He repeated the claim that he has nearly $500 million in cash and properties but said: "That doesn't mean I'm going to give money to a rogue and incompetent judge."