Amid Donald Trump’s mounting legal challenges and financial debts, national security lawyer Mary McCord suggested on Saturday that Russian oligarchs might be inclined to offer assistance to the former president.
In September 2022, New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit alleging fraud against Trump, his two adult sons, Donald Jr. and Eric, The Trump Organization, and two executives, Allen Weisselberg and Jeff McConney. The lawsuit claims they fraudulently inflated asset values to obtain more favorable bank loans and tax arrangements.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Putin, is set to pursue re-election 2024.
Last week, Judge Arthur Engoron delivered a ruling imposing a fine of approximately $355 million on Trump and barring him from conducting business in New York for three years. This decision followed a lengthy civil trial that spanned from late last year into early January. Despite maintaining his innocence and alleging political motivations behind the case, Trump received this judgment.
The New York ruling comes shortly after another legal setback for Trump. He was ordered to pay $83.3 million to former Elle columnist E. Jean Carroll for damaging her reputation. Carroll had accused Trump of sexually assaulting her in the 1990s. Additionally, a separate jury awarded Carroll $5 million for sexual abuse and defamation last year. Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing in this case as well.
During an interview on MSNBC’s The Weekend last Saturday, Mary McCord, former acting assistant attorney general for national security at the Department of Justice (DOJ), discussed whether Trump’s financial liabilities pose a national security concern.
“Yes, we’re discussing the challenge he might face in posting this nearly half-billion-dollar bond, but he certainly has numerous individuals who might be inclined to assist him with that. Some of these individuals could be foreign, including Russian oligarchs, while others could be located right here in the U.S.,” McCord remarked.
McCord further highlighted Trump’s admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin as a cause for alarm, suggesting that other nations might perceive the prospect of Trump reclaiming the presidency as an opportunity to gain favors from him.
“Whenever you have someone running for president or holding any elected position who potentially owes debts or feels beholden to others, it poses significant risks. Especially given his affinity for Putin, his consistent praise of Putin’s governance of Russia, I can easily envision individuals there with the resources to assist him. There are plenty of other countries eager to garner favors from Donald Trump should he return to the presidency,” she elaborated.
Last week, Judge Arthur Engoron delivered a ruling imposing a fine of approximately $355 million on Trump and barring him from conducting business in New York for three years. This decision followed a lengthy civil trial that spanned from late last year into early January. Despite maintaining his innocence and alleging political motivations behind the case, Trump received this judgment.
The New York ruling comes shortly after another legal setback for Trump. He was ordered to pay $83.3 million to former Elle columnist E. Jean Carroll for damaging her reputation. Carroll had accused Trump of sexually assaulting her in the 1990s. Additionally, a separate jury awarded Carroll $5 million for sexual abuse and defamation last year. Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing in this case as well.
During an interview on MSNBC’s The Weekend last Saturday, Mary McCord, former acting assistant attorney general for national security at the Department of Justice (DOJ), discussed whether Trump’s financial liabilities pose a national security concern.
With the recent civil fraud ruling and the two judgments in Carroll’s defamation case, the former president faces a staggering sum of approximately $542 million in total judgments against him.
Furthermore, the civil fraud verdict mandates that Trump pay interest on certain profits he’s been directed to relinquish. According to Attorney General James, these interest payments amount to $99 million and will accrue daily until settled.
Trump’s legal team intends to appeal Judge Engoron’s decision in the civil fraud case.
Additionally, Trump plans to appeal Carroll’s case, aiming to reduce the $83.3 million awarded. As of February 8, Trump has been given a 30-day window to post a bond while awaiting post-trial motions to potentially reduce the award.
