Trump Gets Last Laugh After CNN Makes Accidental Admission LIVE On Air
A CNN analyst acknowledged the high valuation of Mar-A-Lago, owned by former President Donald Trump, amidst discussions on New York Attorney General Letitia James’ legal battle against him.
This comes after a judge estimated the worth of a different property involved in the case to be significantly lower, between $18 and $35 million.
Real estate specialist Bess Freedman commented during a CNN interview on the potential sale of Trump’s property in Westchester, highlighting Attorney General James' efforts to potentially seize Trump’s holdings unless he settles a substantial $434 million penalty by the upcoming Monday.
Discussing the sale timeline, Freedman mentioned, “You need at least 30 days to get any of these properties sold. But the property that you alluded to, Mar-A-Lago, potentially that could be something that could be sold quickly. I think the valuation is something in the hundreds of millions and I think there could be a buyer for something like that.”
CNN's Erin Burnett further elaborated on the urgency of the sale, suggesting a swift transaction could occur before Monday, involving direct communication and immediate payment.
Freedman also highlighted the appeal of Mar-A-Lago, comparing Palm Beach's real estate market to a booming sector and acknowledging the high demand among international buyers. “Yeah, I mean there could be plenty of international people who want to buy that property. I mean, there’s properties that are priced at $150 and $200 million that are nearby that. And Palm Beach is like the Nvidia of real estate. It’s just shot up like a rocket. And people do want to live there. They’ve moved there. So I think that would be the best case scenario as to property if he’s trying to sell quickly,” she explained.
Judge Arthur Engoron has mandated Trump to pay the full $434 million fine by Monday, a demand Trump’s legal team has deemed nearly impossible due to the challenge in securing a bond for the judgment amount, which with interest, surpasses $464 million.
Trump’s lawyers have expressed the difficulty in securing such a large bond, stating, “Very few bonding companies will consider a bond of anything approaching that magnitude, as the amount of the judgment, with interest, exceeds $464 million. We have searched the market extensively, but we have not been able to secure a bond for the Judgment Amount for Defendants. This is due to the fact that, in the current situation, obtaining an appeal bond for $464 million is practically impossible.”
Attorney General James has consistently warned of taking over Trump’s assets if the fine is not timely paid.
In a conversation with ABC News last month, James remarked, “If he does not have the funds to pay off the judgment, then we will seek judgment enforcement mechanisms in court and we will ask the judge to seize his assets.”
In a move to prepare for potential asset seizure, James lodged Judge Engoron’s $464 million judgment against Trump in Westchester County on March 6.
This filing aims at facilitating the confiscation of Trump’s valuable properties, including the 140-acre Trump National Golf Club Westchester and Seven Springs residence, should the former president fail to fulfill the financial penalty.