There is no way that this does not run afoul of the 8th Amendment:
Eighth Amendment
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
This fine is larger than some national economies. They know this will not stand, but that is not the point for them; they need Trump’s funds locked up and unavailable for the 2024 election cycle. The added benefit of taking Trump off the campaign trail to attend myriad kangaroo-court sessions is an added benefit.
I think where they fatally miscalculated is the Friday SEC approval of the Truth Social deal, coincidentally on the same day as this joke of a decision was handed down from the NY clown-court and its jester-judge.
With the approval of that deal, Trump’s net worth went from around $4.5B to $8.5B, so the only restriction on Trump raising funds is that he cannot do so with any bank in the state of NY.
As for the appellate review of this case, they have already ruled against this judge and in this same case four separate times, so I do not think they are playing Engoron’s get-Trump game. Remember, Trump has around 25,000 New Yorkers that he employs.
Regardless of Engoron’s palpable hatred for Trump, the remainder of New Yorkers do not share in that sentiment, nor does the appellate court.
You might say, Trump was 10 plays ahead of Engoron’s ruling.
Now it appears Engoron’s ruling may have also stuck a hot poker in the eyes of the American truckers, who have vowed to bring pain to the state. Let us see what they can do.
See you all at the ballot box! TRUMP 2024!
That’s a good analysis.
And the DWAC decision is definitely a saving grace. Garbage like Engoron, Hochul and James can only imagine such numbers.
So Trump may be able to outdo them but it never should have happened.
I simply don’t trust anything from the astonishingly crooked state of Noo Yawk. If the Appeals court is actually almost on the level, that’s shocking to me. But I do believe that political pressure from all levels - Trump’s own employment base and by now, every real estate business of any size - can have an effect.
We’ll see.