The New York attorney general's office has filed judgments in Westchester County in the first step towards preparing to seize the assets of former President Donald Trump.
The judgments were filed with the Westchester County clerk's office on March 6, shortly after Judge Arthur Engoron handed down his verdict against Trump in a civil fraud case and found him, his sons Don Jr. and Eric, and the Trump Organization to be liable for fraud after conspiring to alter the former president's net worth for tax and insurance benefits. Engoron ordered Trump to pay $464 million, plus interest, in total.
The filing of the judgments was first reported by CNN.
In the judgments, New York Attorney General Letitia James did not provide a name of specific Trump assets they hope to seize. Trump's properties in Westchester County include the Trump National Golf Club Westchester and a 212-acre Seven Springs estate.
James has given Trump a deadline of March 25 to post the bond for the civil trial case. If he fails to do so, James said her office intends to seek "judgment enforcement mechanisms in court."
What Comes Next for Trump
A judgment is the first step a creditor would take to attempt to recover property. So far, judgments have been entered in New York, where Trump's assets include the Trump Tower, his penthouse in the said building, 40 Wall Street, a hotel near Central Park, and numerous apartment buildings.
James' office has yet to file judgments in Florida, where Trump's Mar-a-Lago, the Trump National Doral Golf Club, and the Trump Hotel in Chicago are located.
In addition to preparing to seize his assets, the judgments also prevent Trump from selling the properties to earn money for the bond. Two employees at the Westchester County Clerk's office said the judgments also act as a "blanket lien" on all properties belonging to Trump in the area. This means that if Trump tries to sell the property, a title search will reveal that there is nearly half a billion dollar judgment hanging over his head, per the Daily Beast.
Trump's team has asked an appeals court to either pause the fraud bond while he appeals it or to accept a lesser bond of $100 million. It is unclear when the court would pass a ruling on Trump's appeal.
