Donald Trump‘s efforts to secure a bond to cover a $454 million judgment in a New York civil fraud case has been rejected by 30 surety companies, his lawyers said on Monday, inching him closer to the possibility of having his properties seized. Read more.
The former president must either pay the sum out of his own pocket or post a bond to stave off the state’s seizure while he appeals Justice Arthur Engoron‘s Feb. 16 judgment against him for misstating property values to dupe lenders and insurers. A bonding company would be on the hook for any payout if Trump loses his appeal and proves unable to pay.
Demonstrators rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court, March 18, 2024. REUTERS/Bonnie Cash
In oral arguments on Monday, U.S. Supreme Court justices appeared skeptical of a challenge on free speech grounds to how the Biden administration encouraged social media platforms to remove posts that federal officials deemed misinformation, including about elections and COVID-19. The case tests whether the administration crossed the line from mere communication and persuasion to strong-arming or coercing platforms to unlawfully censor disfavored speech, as lower courts found. Read more here.
The court was also hearing arguments today over whether a New York state official can be sued for violating the National Rifle Association‘s constitutional free speech rights by allegedly pressuring banks and insurers to avoid doing business with the influential group due to its gun rights advocacy. Learn more about those arguments here.
