‘Is E. Jean Carroll Ever Going To See This Money?’ MSNBC Panelists Break Down $83.3 Million Award Against Trump

MSNBC tackled the big question on everyone’s minds now that Donald Trump has been ordered to pay $83.3 million in damages to E. Jean Carroll: Will the defamed writer ever even actually see any of the money??

“The question I have is, is E. Jean Carroll ever going to see this money? $83.3 million is a lot of money…The New York Times has an article that notes that Trump will be able to wait to pay the full $83.3 million until all appeals are exhausted. How is this going to work?” asked Symone Sanders-Townsend.

“In this instance, when this case involves this level of punitive damages, the local rules in the Southern District of New York talk about the bond’s amount,” said Katie Phang. “It depends on the company; the bond company may require Donald Trump to post anywhere from 20% if not more, also with collateral.

“So, what could be used for collateral, Simone? He could use real estate properties, he could maybe find somebody else who could be serving as collateral in this instance. But the problem for Donald Trump is leverage. He is over-leveraging himself, and that’s what got him into trouble in the first place with the New York attorney general’s case for the civil fraud.”

The New York Times reported that “the former president is still on the hook to pay something — possibly a sizable sum — while he waits” for the appeals process to play out. The article reiterated Phang’s explanation of bonds and collateral:

Mr. Trump can pay the $83.3 million to the court, which will hold the money while the appeal is pending. This is what he did last year when a jury ordered him to pay Ms. Carroll $5.5 million in a related case.

Or, Mr. Trump can try to secure a bond, which will save him from having to pay the full amount up front.

A bond might require him to pay a deposit and offer collateral, and would come with interest and fees. It would also require Mr. Trump to find a financial institution willing to lend him a large sum of money at a time when he is in significant legal jeopardy.

The Times quoted Bruce Green, director of the Louis Stein Center for Law and Ethics at Fordham University, as saying, rump is “the rare defendant with an $83 million verdict against him who actually has the money. Wherever this lands, she should be able to collect.”

Watch the clip above via MSNBC and read The New York Times article here.