Donald Trump likens himself to ‘murdered’ Putin critic Alexander Navalny after being ordered to pay $355M over fraud ruling
- Donald Trump said Tuesday during a Fox News town hall in South Carolina that lawsuits against him are akin to politically motivated murder
- “It’s a form of Navalny,” he said of the death of Putin’s political rival
- Trump says all lawsuits come directly from the Biden White House
Donald Trump compared the ruling that ordered him to pay $355 million in a civil fraud case in New York to the “fascist” murder of a political opponent.
The former president said the lawsuits against him are a “form” of politically motivated attacks, invoking the recent death of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s political prisoner and rival Alexei Navalny.
‘It’s a form of Navalny. It’s a form of communism or fascism,” Trump told Fox News host Laura Ingraham during a town hall in Greenville, South Carolina, on Tuesday evening.
Trump did not say whether he is preparing to issue the bond while he appeals the decision, but did say that despite the big money in his bank account, Judge Arthur Engoron and the Democrats “can’t stand it.”
Donald Trump said Tuesday during a Fox News town hall in South Carolina that lawsuits against him are akin to politically motivated murder. ‘It’s a form of Navalny. It is a form of communism or fascism’
Trump compared the need to pay more than $450 million and face multiple lawsuits that he claims are politically motivated to reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the assassination of political rival Alexei Navalny (photo )
Meanwhile, New York Attorney General Letitia James said she is prepared to seize Trump’s assets if he cannot find the money to cover the fine.
“If he does not have the money to pay off the judgment, we will seek mechanisms in court to enforce the judgment, and we will ask the judge to seize his assets,” James told ABC News.
Trump called Engoron, who issued the costly ruling last week, a “sick judge” during his town hall in the next and final early primary state of South Carolina.
“We have a lot of money, but that doesn’t mean he can handle it,” Trump complained. “I mean, you know what he did. I think he looked at my money and said, ‘Well, we’re taking all his money.’
“This all comes from the White House,” he emphasized.
Trump is involved in several lawsuits, including 91 charges against the ex-president.
He says they are all attempts at election interference against him.
Trump compared the latest statement to reports that Putin ordered the killing of political rival Navalny after his death last week.
New York Attorney General Letitia James says she is preparing to seize Trump’s assets if he does not transfer the $355 million ordered last week in the civil case
In addition to the $354.9 million that Judge Engoron ordered Trump to vacate, he will also be assessed nearly $100 million in prejudgment interest and will accrue more interest daily until he sets the money aside.
The case alleged that Trump, his family and his associates inflated the value of his properties for financial gain for his real estate empire, the Trump Organization.
“Everything that’s coming out — this is all election interference,” Trump said. “They’re trying to harm me so they can win another election.”
Trump is the frontrunner in the Republican presidential primaries, where his only remaining contender is former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who gave a speech earlier on Tuesday in which she stressed she will not be dropping out of the race anytime soon.
President Joe Biden and Trump are so far set for a rematch in 2024.