The staggering civil fraud judgment against Donald Trump was finalized in New York on Friday, making an official verdict that leaves the former president on the hook for more than $454 million in fines and interest.
The procedural step by the New York county clerk starts the clock on Trump’s appeals process, while allowing the debt to begin racking up post-judgment interest of nearly $112,000 each day, according to a spokesperson for New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought the case.
In his Feb. 16 ruling, Judge Arthur Engoron ruled that Trump lied for years about his wealth in order to secure favorable loans and make deals that helped prop up his real estate empire. He was ordered to pay $354.9 million in penalties plus nearly $100 million in interest. students, faculty and staff had a lot to say about “Trump justice.”
On Wednesday, Trump’s attorneys offered to post a $100 million bond to stay the judgment while Trump appealed it, saying it would be “impossible” to secure a “complete” appeal bond.
If Trump were forced to put up a bond for the entire amount, his lawyers wrote, “properties would likely need to be sold to raise capital under exigent circumstances” to raise the money.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought the fraud case, responded by saying that concession shows Trump “has insufficient liquid assets to satisfy the judgment.”
However, some staff felt as if he got let off easy because he is not held accountable for his actions, while some staff members feel like Engoron allowed Trump to get off easy.
Director of Student Life Jason Etheridge feels that the outcome of his case could be worse.
“I think the worst part is the judgment because of what he did and how he did it, the judgment should be worse,” Etheridge said. “The outcome that happened to Donald Trump is nothing.”
Some staff members compared his case to other celebrities, like Wesley Snipes, and felt that the ruling of his case was unfair, specifically Orion DuBose, the John Garrick Hardy Center facility coordinator.
“I feel like his building does not need to open back up. If other people like Wesley Snipes went to jail, what makes Donald Trump so different?”
Students like Fred Ross, a junior majoring in visual arts, had similar feelings.
“I feel like they are letting him off easy,” Ross said. “His penalty could be worse.”
Thuellus Griglen, a senior majoring in rehabilitation services, feels like Trump needs to be in jail.
“I feel like he needs to be imprisoned for his actions,” Griglen said.
Another student, Niricha Williams, a senior majoring in criminal justice, feels as if his case is not fair either.
“I feel like it’s not fair financially, especially for people who are in debt,” Willams said. “When you think about it, at a financial lower level, it would affect other people and stop them from getting houses, credit cards, etc. You cannot get certain things in life, but for Trump, he just gets to pay them back, and it will not affect him. He should be penalized for it.”