25 March 2024 , 14:19
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Donald Trump has been spotted in New York as he heads to court in Manhattan for a hearing in his ’hush money’ case on the same day his £360 million civil fraud fine is due
On the day his staggering $454 million (£360m) civil fraud case fine is due, Donald Trump has been spotted heading to court for another one of his cases - the hush money case involving adult entertainment star Stormy Daniels.
Trump, who is in a navy suit and a red tie, made his way to court in Manhattan for a hearing in his ’hush money’ case, which has been delayed. He looked down briefly and mostly straight ahead while talking to the defence table, according to reporters inside the courtroom. Before walking in, he briefly spoke to reporters outside to call the legal case a "hoax" and a "witch hunt."
It will be the Republican frontrunner’s third appearance in Manhattan Supreme Court after Justice Juan Manuel Merchan delayed the criminal trial. The former president is expected to speak after the hearing.
But it comes on the same day Trump is due to cough up the cash in his New York civil fraud ruling which saw Judge Arthur Engoron ordering the business mogul to pay a $454m fine for inflating his net worth in order to secure better deals and loans. Trump’s legal team have been in "panic mode" attempting to come up with the cash to pay the bond, after 30 companies declined to underwrite the payment.
It’s not clear how he will make the payment, though Attorney General Letitia James has previously warned that she will seize Trump’s properties as a form of payment if the presidential nominee cannot pay the fine. Trump has repeatedly hit out at Ms James, taking to his Truth Social account in the early hours of Monday morning to post a scathing update in which he slammed the "crooked" judge and "corrupt" attorney general.
Meanwhile, in his hush money case, the judge ruled that trial would be postponed until at least April 15 after Trump’s team said they need more time to review thousands of pages of newly disclosed evidence that had been dumped on them by prosecutors in relation to Manhattan US Attorney Damian Williams’ case against Trump’s former fixer, Michael Cohen.
Cohen, who faced off against Trump as a witness in his civil case last year, is expected to take the stand once more at his criminal trial, Last year, Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts in the Manhattan criminal case after he allegedly was involved in covering up $310,000 (£245,000) in ’hush money’ payments made before the 2016 election. It’s said these payments were made to adult film star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal to prevent them from going public about their alleged affairs with Trump.