Trump Lawyer Alina Habba Criticizes Civil Fraud Hearing as ‘Waste of Time and Money’

DEBARYLIFE – Following weeks of back and forth over the $175 million bond in his civil fraud ruling, Donald Trump’s legal team and the New York Attorney General’s Office have now decided to allow the bond to be backed by a California-based company, subject to certain conditions, including that the collateral stays in cash.

Approximately 500 feet from the Manhattan courtroom where opening arguments in Mr. Trump’s first criminal trial began, lawyers for Letitia James’s office and Mr. Trump’s attorneys, including Alina Habba, convened on Monday for a court hearing on the bond disagreement.

After the hearing, Ms. Habba became enraged, claiming that it was a waste of public money and “wasted time.” She also attempted to draw parallels between Ms. James’ criminal case and the needless complaints Ms. James had made about the bond.

“It is a disgrace to the American judicial system that we have two courts—one criminal, one civil—being used against one man because they are unable to defeat him in the polls,” the woman declared.

“Ms. James attempted to claim that our money isn’t sufficiently environmentally friendly in some way. Here, in America, is precisely where your tax funds are going—to witch hunt after witch hunt.

Following the bond hearing, Ms. Habba joined Mr. Trump in criminal court, echoing the former president’s statements that “he should not even be here today because he did nothing wrong.”

The underwriter of the fraud bond, Knight Specialty Insurance Company (KSIC), a California-based business that provided Mr. Trump with an eleventh-hour lifeline, was at the center of the argument. The business is a member of the Knight Insurance Group, which is led by Don Hankey, the billionaire.

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Concerns were raised by Ms. James’s office over the bond’s specifics, stating that KSIC was not authorized to do business in New York and that the corporation ought to have complete control over the collateral provided by Mr. Trump.

Disagreeing, KSCI stated in a filing that they could because it was supported by a Charles Schwab account that was guaranteed to them.

Lawyers for Mr. Trump and Ms. James’s office reached a deal on Monday during a comparatively short hearing. Under the terms of the arrangement, KSCI will retain possession of the $175 million in collateral and appoint an agent to accept legal services in New York on their behalf.

The bail could continue under the revised conditions, according to Judge Arthur Engoron, who oversaw both the hearing and the civil fraud trial.

“Ms. James attempted to claim that our money isn’t sufficiently environmentally friendly in some way. We squandered time,” Ms. Habba remarked. We decided to keep everything the same, change the terminology, and call it a day. America, that’s exactly where your tax dollars are going—witch hunt after witch hunt.”

Since Judge Engoron ordered Mr. Trump to pay $354 million plus interest during his civil fraud trial in February, the bond in the case has undergone significant changes.

Judge Engoron determined that Mr. Trump, his grown sons, and previous Trump Organization executives were accountable for deceiving banks and investors to obtain better terms.

Although he intended to appeal the decision, Mr. Trump was unable to do so without posting a sizable bail.

Following his search for businesses to assist him in paying the bond—which by March had risen to $464 million—Mr. Trump filed an appeal with a New York appellate court, requesting that they lower it.

The court gave him a victory, reducing it to $175 million and giving him a 10-day extension.

By this Friday, the terms of the new deal have to be finalized.