Trump $175m bond lifeline branded an ‘absolute travesty’ as Truth Social hits Wall Street today: Latest

The network’s decision to hire former Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel continues to face criticism from pundits on air, with Lawrence O’Donnell particularly damning in deriding the Trump ally for dropping “Romney” from her surname to please the former president over his hatred of her uncle Mitt Romney.

Here’s John Bowden on Chuck Todd’s reaction to McDaniel.

Strong stuff from the former Trump administration aide Cassidy Hutchinson, who bravely spoke out to the House select committee investigating the January 6 attack about the then-president’s activities on that infamous day.

Last week, Trump claimed he had “almost” $500m “in cash” that he obtained “through hard work, talent and luck.”

He said that “substantial amount” was intended to fund his presidential campaign.

Days later, facing an imminent deadline to post an appeals bond of nearly half a billion dollars to block enforcement of civil fraud judgment against him, the former president suggested he had “a similar amount in my bank account” and he “intended to use much of that hard earned money on running for President.”

But after a New York appeals court allowed him to post a $175m bond up to 10 days after Monday’s deadline to come up with the cash, the Republican Party’s likely nominee for president said it’s “none of your business” if he actually puts up any of his own money for his campaign.

Here’s more from Alex Woodward.

Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis disputed that her office’s prosecution of Trump over his efforts to pressure state officials in Georgia to change the 2020 election results was in any way hindered or slowed down by the dispute over her relationship with a prosecutor on the case.

John Bowden has the latest from the Peach State.

Trump posted this on the aforementioned Truth Social yesterday, amid his time of trials.

It drew this delightfully withering response from the Biden campaign.

Incidentally, over on Fox News, it was Charles Manson, not Christ, to whom Trump was likened, unwisely, by pundit Marc Thiessen, who griped: “None of this would be happening if Donald Trump wasn’t running for president. They’ve issued 91 indictments against Donald Trump.

“Charles Manson faced 10… They’ve got multiple cases trying to bankrupt him.”

Trump World never sleeps and, today, his Truth Social platform will begin trading on the Nasdaq exchange as a public company, with the former president tipped to make a cool and timely $3.5bn from the venture if he sells his 78m shares at the first opportunity in six months time, all being well.

Here’s a little reaction to yesterday’s move by the five-judge panel on the New York appeals court to delay and discount Trump’s bond deadline.

Letitia James was defiant in the face of disappointment.

Former New York assistant attorney general Tristan Snell called it an “absolute travesty” and an “absolute gross miscarriage of justice” on MSNBC while ex-Republican National Committee chair Michael Steele said the decision made “absolutely no sense”.

But Trump lawyer Alina Habba was jubilant.

For Trump ally Steve Bannon, it was proof that conventional “lawfare” simply does not work against the 45th president.

After emerging from Judge Merchan’s courtroom, Trump spoke briefly to reporters.

He then held a rambling press conference at his nearby 40 Wall Street property – which could yet be seized by New York attorney general Letitia James – a gathering that was laced with blunders and “contentious” statements, a selection of which you can see for yourself below.

“You can’t have an election in the middle of a political season,” he declares, before pledging to “bring crime back to law and order”.

Here’s Mike Bedigan’s round-up, starting with Trump’s confusion over who precisely is New York’s current governor.

The other big news from Monday saw Judge Juan Merchan, presiding over his hush money in trial in Manhattan hold a pre-trial hearing to consider the impact on the already-delayed proceedings of a huge 100,000-strong dump of fresh documents potentially relevant to the case.

In less positive news for the candidate, Judge Merchan elected to press ahead with jury selection on Monday 15 April.

Trump was there to hear that one in person, as was our own Alex Woodward who submitted this report.

If you’re just joining us, here’s a recap of yesterday’s two major developments from another wild one in Trump World.

First up, a New York appeals court has granted the Republican presidential candidate a 10-day extension to secure a portion of the $464m bond he has been ordered to post, after the former president signalled he was struggling to come up with the money.

The five-judge court panel said that the former president could have more than a week to secure just $175m while he awaits a ruling in his appeal of the judgement made by Justice Arthur Engoron in the civil fraud case.

The ruling is a win for Trump who initially had until Monday to come up with the means to post the $464m bond to prevent New York attorney general Letitia James from seizing his properties.

Though businessman often boasts about his net worth, he seemed to be struggling to find a way to post the bond.

Justice Engoron imposed a $454m penalty on Trump, his adult sons and former executives of the Trump Organization after finding them liable for conspiring to inflate his net worth to obtain favourable terms from insurers and banks on his properties.

Ariana Baio has the full story.