The High Price of Being the Chosen One

 You can say one thing about Donald Trump. when he does something it is big. And on Friday he went really, really, big.

Indeed, there aren't a whole lot of people on this blue ball who can run up a $355 million tab in a single day. That's the amount of money Judge Arthur Engoron ordered the Trump Organization and therefore Donald John Trump to pay the state of New York late last week. Engoron also ordered Don Jr. and Eric Trump to shell out $4 million apiece, running the Trump family bill up to $363 million. Former Trump Org hot shot Allen Weisselberg was tagged for $1 million, which he will, no doubt, be on the hook for all by himself. 

For those keeping track of such things our Donald also owes E. Jean Carroll another $88 million plus. That means the family Trump at this moment in time owes a total of $451 million. But wait, as they say in the ads, there is more. All these financial judgements accrue interest during the appeals process. If the judgement totals remain the same after the appeals are exhausted--it's doubtful they will--the Trump Org/family will owe well over $500 million.

That's a figure which might cause 17-year-old Barron to rethink his lifestyle plans.    

As the appeals are pending the Trumps will have to post a bond on the sum of the judgements as they now stand amounting to somewhere between 10 and 20%. So, unless DJT wants to kick out $35 to $70 million of his own cash on that $355 million he need to find someone to front him the money. It's difficult to say who would do it. Thanks to Engoron's ruling they can't secure a loan from any bank licensed to do business in New York. In fact they can't do any sort of business at all in the state for two to three years. (Two each for Donn Jr. and Eric and three for the old man) In addition everything they do financially is monitored by two different court appointed officials.

Despite these restrictions MSNBC talking head, Lawrence O'Donnell is confident the Trumps will find a fresh influx of cash somewhere. As he points out, Donald Trump has a lot of, to borrow a Garth Brooks title, friends in low places. His son in law, Jared Kushner is in tight with the Saudis and they're pretty free with their cash. Then there is Don's old pal Vladimir Putin. In exchange for a few future favors from a second Trump administration--you know like leaving Ukraine high and dry and withdrawing from NATO--no one could deny they would be happy to foot Trump's bill. 

Sure there would be accusations of bribery, but it's Trump for God's sake. The man is a known rapist and been accused of felonies from New York City to Washington D.C. Atlanta, and beyond. At this point selling out Ukraine and all of Europe for personal gain is to be expected. 

Whether Donald Trump has to sell off some, or all of his properties to pay these massive tabs is unknown. What is known is he won't have to worry about his growing legal fees. No, all those bills have been and will continue to be paid for by hordes of devoted rubes who are utterly convinced he is the second coming of Jesus Christ. They might not be able to pony up $500 million, but by Donald they can pay for his never-ending appeals.

And why shouldn't they? After all, as we've just learned, it costs a lot of money to be, The Chosen One.

2-18-24