6 Ways Engoron Nailed Donald More Than Most Noticed

I saved the best for last

BREAKING: The dust settles on the Engoron verdict, and it’s even WORSE for Donald and his adult children than previously reported.

If you thought yesterday was bad for Donald, Donny, and Eric — buckle up, my friends - Read on!

1. The total owed is more than previously reported

After nearly every news source and commentator reported that Donald was ordered to pay a penalty of around “$350 million” — a closer examination of what the judgment says tells a different story.

While the penalty the judge assessed was indeed $354.9 million, the court also applied $98.6 million in pre-judgment interest.

That means the actual total Donald owes right now is $453.5 million. Interest will accrue at an annual rate of 9% which will result in an additional fine of $1 million a week until he pays.

2. Donald is in a serious cash crunch

Donald has claimed that he has about $400 million in cash on hand. Estimates from other more reliable sources seem to confirm this, although such estimates are merely snapshots in time and it’s therefore difficult to be accurate. Even so, the New York penalties appear to exceed his currently held liquid assets.

If we add the $83 million judgment in E. Jean Carroll’s favor, you can see why financial experts like Dan Alexander say Donald is in a “cash crunch.”

To make matters worse—significantly worse—Engoron’s decision makes it even less likely Donald can pay these judgments without selling off some real estate.

How? The best part of the verdict nearly everyone missed:

3. Donald can’t get a loan in NY for 3 years

Part of Engoron’s decision included this very important penalty that most of the news glossed over:

Donald and the Trump Organization are both banned from applying for loans from any New York-chartered financial institutions for 3 years.

Donald will need to come up with the money himself to pay what he owes. If he can’t get a loan (I can’t imagine why any bank, in or out of New York, would loan that man money), then he’ll likely need to start selling off some of his properties, likely at a loss, to make up the difference.

Donald will not handle this well.

4. Donny and Eric finally get the babysitters they’ve needed all along. Donald, too.

Aside from being penalized more than $4 million each, Donny and Eric have been barred from serving as an officer or director of any NY corporation for 2 years.

In addition, Engoron decided to extend the tenure of retired Judge Barbara Jones who will serve as a monitor who, among other things, will make sure the company doesn’t move assets without informing the court in advance.

Judge Engoron took this step because Donald and his sons cannot be trusted to run a business without committing fraud!

5. Engoron singled out Eric’s credibility as “damaged”

In his ruling, Engoron was harshly critical of Eric’s testimony, writing:

“Eric Trump’s credibility was severely damaged when he repeatedly denied knowing that his father ever even compiled an SFC that valued his assets and showed his net worth ‘until this case came into fruition.’”

The judge continued, "They are accused only of inflating asset values to make more money. The documents prove this over and over again. . . . Their complete lack of contrition and remorse borders on pathological."

6. Donald, finally, is starting to feel what it’s like to be held accountable for his lies.

Judge Engoron’s verdict was literally years in the making. For decades, Donald has engaged in fraud and deceptive business practices, just like his father before him and just as his sons continue to do today.

In a sane country, this decision should have a fatal impact on Donald’s future in American politics. But it’s also deeply personal to me.

Those of you who’ve been with me since July 2020 know how important it is to me that we justice done in the wake of all of Donald’s many crimes. There is a long way to go towards that end, but, even though the two cases that have already had an impact—this one and E. Jean Carroll’s—are civil not criminal, there is still a sense of vindication, especially as a New Yorker, as E. Jean’s friend, and as Donald’s niece.

As the dust settles, I hope this ruling stands as a sharp reminder of the importance of transparency, accountability, and the pursuit of justice. We’re often told that “no one is above the law.” Let’s make sure that’s true.

So, how am I doing?

Sometimes it’s exhausting covering all of this, but after yesterday, I’m still smiling.

If you appreciate my work and want to become a supporting subscriber to join my mission to hold Donald accountable, and to keep him and other fascists OUT of office — please consider upgrading, for half the cost of a celebratory beer at the local pub.

I’m there with you in spirit.

– Mary