So apparently, even half-billion-dollar fines can be—wait for it—too big to be allowed. That’s right. A New York appellate court, in its infinite wisdom, has declared that a $454–527 million disgorgement penalty slapped on Trump for exaggerating his wealth was just flat-out excessive under the Eighth Amendment. Justice Renwick, Moulton, and friends could barely contain their disdain.
Math Is Hard—But These Judges Did It Anyway
Let’s talk numbers, because when the dust settles, somebody has to admit the fine grew faster than a Kardashian marriage. The original bench ruling demanded roughly $364 million in “ill-gotten gains”—plus interest. That marched merrily upward to $454M, $515M, or even $527M, depending on your math preference. Apparently, that’s more than even the court was comfortable with.
Restrictions Lifted—but Only the Fun Ones
The appellate panel did more than just kiss that dollar sign goodbye. They also pressed pause on some of the sand-in-the-gear restrictions: no more gag orders preventing Trump Jr. from steering the company, and no more bans on bank loans in New York. Poof—restrictions freeze-framed pending higher review. Still, the court-appointed monitor remains on the job like an overzealous soup Nazi.
What Happens to the Money?
Here’s the part the media won’t explain: Trump never wrote Letitia James a half-billion-dollar check. He posted a bond through a surety company to cover the judgment while appeals played out. That meant the state couldn’t touch the money unless the appeals failed. Now that the fine has been thrown out as excessive, that bond gets released back to Trump—minus the hefty fees he paid to secure it. Translation: the state doesn’t get a dime, and Trump walks away with another courtroom win.
Bond Fees Explained
Trump didn’t fork over half a billion to the state, but fighting this case wasn’t free either. To block Letitia James from raiding his accounts, he had to secure a bond for the full $454M judgment. That meant going through a surety company—basically legal loan sharks for billionaires—who guaranteed payment if he lost. In return, Trump paid millions in non-refundable fees, likely in the 1–3% range of the total each year, plus pledging chunks of his real estate as collateral. So yes, the fine is gone, the bond is released, but those millions in premiums? Kiss them goodbye. Call it the hidden cost of surviving Democrat lawfare.
So What’s Next, AG?
Letitia James—bless her tenacious spirit—can still sprint this thing up to New York’s highest court. But whatever happens next, today’s ruling sure gives Trump a heck of a win in his “Let them eat lawsuits” tour. Cue dramatic victory stance.
Final Thoughts
For years, Democrats have salivated over the idea of bankrupting Trump into irrelevance. Instead, the Eighth Amendment just rode in like a cavalry horse and stomped all over their fantasy. What was supposed to be the Left’s legal deathblow turned into another political boomerang. Trump gets the headlines, James gets egg on her face, and voters are reminded—again—that lawfare against political enemies tends to collapse under its own absurdity.
They are scared sh-tless because James black ass will be hit with the same amount of money they hit Trump with. They are covering up their corruption right in front of the world to see. James better be hit with $355 Million fine just as Trump was no special treatment for a DEI black democrat corrupt prosecutor she should get double that amount because she knew better and she’s a lawyer. Now all of a sudden the game rules change because their top democrat corrupt prosecutor get caught with her fat ass flapping in the breeze. She needs to be made an example of because she’s a government official. She’s should be fined over $355 Million dollars and spend 20 to 30 years in federal prison for her crimes without the possibility of parole or pardons ever and abuse of a president and for election interference. She should be hung for Treason. The big black mouth isn’t flapping now that the rope is around her neck is it. The American people are going to make sure she goes down hard. And not one penny of taxpayers money better be used for her defense. She should’ve been fired already because NY is going to be hit hard with everything she touched as being compromised and corrupt and hiding important documents.
And Kathy Hochul your in big trouble also. Prison awaits no one is above the law.
Letitia James has to be one the WORST AG to put her fat arse in a black robe!! She ran on ONE platform only – “I’m gonna take Donald Trump down”!!! Too bad her platform just blew up like a nuclear bomb! Hopefully that bomb takes down her vile career in law!! What moron and idiot! She’s just 100% disgusting! Hope she is disbarred!
That evil impersonation of a human being needs to be disbarred, removed from office, and thrown into federal prison, plus fined for all the charges she tried to illegally lay off on Trump. In addition, that lunatic judge needs the same punishment, as he is clearly deranged and should not be allowed to walk around sane people!