Experts have raised concerns about the implications of Donald Trump’s $91.6 million bond payment in a defamation case, suggesting that it could raise “troubling new questions” about his ability to serve as president and a concern for national security.
What Happened: In an opinion piece for MSNBC, David Cay Johnston expressed concerns about the potential influence of Trump’s debts on his actions as president. He also questioned the impact of Trump’s financial obligations on national security decisions.
Johnston highlighted legal analyst and former FBI counsel Andrew Weismann‘s recent comment on Trump’s bond payment. Weismann had expressed that the public is unaware of who provided the money for Trump’s bond, emphasizing that Trump is now indebted to someone for a substantial amount. He also pointed out that Trump’s admiration for dictators and his false declarations about presidential powers are worrisome.
The bond in question was posted by Trump in a defamation case brought by advice columnist E. Jean Carroll. The bond was provided by Chubb, a Swiss insurance company with operations in 54 countries, including Russia.
“I call owing a fortune to anyone, but especially foreign interests that do business in Russia, a national security nightmare,” Johnston said.
Johnston suggested that if Trump posts a larger bond for the $454 million judgment obtained by New York State after a trial on financial fraud, the concerns about his debts and their potential influence on his presidency would be amplified.
Johnston also questioned the terms on which Trump secured the bond from Chubb’s arm, the Federal Insurance Company.
“No one in 1787 imagined that an American president would owe more than a half-billion dollars in damage awards, with more cases pending, to a company with global business interests that in part depend on remaining in the good graces of a dictator like Putin,” Johnston highlighted.
“Even if measured in 1787 currency, this prospect surely would have caused James Madison and the other architects of our Constitution to endure many sleepless nights. It should vex you too.”
Why It Matters: The bond payment is the latest development in the ongoing legal battle between Trump and Carroll. Trump posted the bond to appeal the defamation verdict in favor of Carroll. This came after a Manhattan jury concluded that Trump had defamed Carroll by denying that he raped her in the mid-1990s.
Trump’s financial obligations have been a point of contention in the legal proceedings. A New York judge denied Trump’s request for a temporary delay in the penalties of Carroll’s defamation case, giving him a three-day window to pay or post a bond for the entire $83.3 million judgment.
Meanwhile, Trump’s niece, Mary Trump, has suggested that another lawsuit by Carroll could be a “slam dunk” for the former president, potentially adding millions to his already substantial fines.
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