# NY AG Letitia James drops the (civil) hammer {On Trump & Family} \[9/21/2022\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [September 21, 2022, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991 "2022-09-21T16:13:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 168
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2024, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/3342 "2024-04-09T22:37:40Z")
Dammit, my post above should have gone into one of the Truth Social threads. My bad. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2024, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/3343 "2024-04-09T23:01:52Z")
Done. 🙂 Thanks for flagging. ---
**Author:** ![Ferris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ferris/32/11573_2.png) [@Ferris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferris)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/3344 "2024-04-10T00:29:09Z")
I presume the legislation that deals with courts’ actions to seize assets in situations like this will specify something like ‘all reasonable attempts to gain value’ from those assets. Could NYS take the ‘Trump brand’ as an asset? Then when it can’t be sold even at a dollar, we could all enjoy watching Trump’s reaction. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/3345 "2024-04-10T06:00:59Z")
Back to the bond, which according to the Daily Beast is not a bond. This honestly stuns me: it seems to me that Knight Specialty Insurance Company is taking on reputational risks. Insurance contracts are seldom fully understood by the buyer: they rely in part upon the reputation of the insurance company. Implying that your bond is backed by a big parent company, when it’s actually offered by a small subsidiary, and furthermore not even promising that they will pay in the fine print seems like the sort of company that you would want to avoid if you were able. Sure, they made their client happy, but if they are willing to attempt to mislead the State of New York, they conceivably might be willing to mislead their customers. A.M. Best, the top rater for insurance company solvency, assigned a financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) and an issuer credit rating of “a-” to Knight Specialty Insurance Company back in 2014. It dropped later, but Knight regained their a- rating in 2022. A- isn’t great, but it isn’t awful either. My point is that the company has at least some reputational capital to lose. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/3346 "2024-04-10T06:16:29Z")
I thought I had gotten the impression from early coverage that this was one of those scumbag vulture insurers whose market is people who don’t have better alternatives. Y’know, like Trump. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/3347 "2024-04-10T13:05:56Z")
weisselberg is being sentenced for perjury today. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/3348 "2024-04-10T13:29:26Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > Back to the bond, which according to the Daily Beast is not a bond. This honestly stuns me: it seems to me that Knight Specialty Insurance Company is taking on reputational risks. Insurance contracts are seldom fully understood by the buyer: they rely in part upon the reputation of the insurance company. Good point. Reputable sureties often have “surety” or “guarantee” as part of their name: “US Fidelity and Guarantee” (USF&G, known in the insurance industry as ‘Us Fellas and God’), or the “Canadian Surety Company.” The “Knight Specialty Insurance Company” sounds like it was established to insure something like Elton John’s fingers or Taylor Swift’s voice. Regardless, “surety” is not insurance, though it is closely related. Knight is, by its own name, a “specialty insurer,” which could include surety, I guess, but it may not. Who knows? Anyway, if Trump couldn’t get a bond from an outfit as reputable and reliant as USF&G, then he’s a bad risk. Which fits his _modus operandi_: go for an alternative with fewer ethics, that is willing to look the other way when he wants them to. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/3349 "2024-04-10T13:38:08Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > weisselberg is being sentenced for perjury today. > Weisselberg is expected to be sentenced to five months in jail under a recommendation by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Sucks to be him. [**SOURCE**](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/ex-trump-cfo-allen-weisselberg-sentenced-perjury-trump-civil-fraud-tri-rcna147144) ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/3350 "2024-04-10T13:45:43Z")
What - he’s getting _another_ free apartment? ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/3351 "2024-04-10T14:08:31Z")
You jest, but I have it on very good authority that the WiFi in Rikers is absolute shite! ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/3352 "2024-04-10T14:24:22Z")
"Weisselberg testified falsely about his knowledge of the size of Trump’s apartment triplex and how the value of that apartment was inflated on Trump’s financial statements for years based on the incorrect square footage. Per his recent [agreement with prosecutors](https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/04/politics/allen-weisselberg-trump-org-cfo-plea-perjury/index.html), Weisselberg did not plead guilty to perjury at Trump’s civil fraud trial over the triplex, and the parties agreed he wouldn’t be sentenced for that conduct, which could be considered a violation of his parole in connection to his 2022 guilty plea." i just can not understand why someone would do months of time in rikers for donald trump. seriously. the last time he was in rikers he was there for about 3 months. i believe i read he was in the medical area. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/3353 "2024-04-10T14:38:20Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > i just can not understand why someone would do months of time in rikers for donald trump. seriously. Same reason all crime family soldiers do: tough it out for a few months and come back out to your millions. Or, more succinctly: $$$$$$$$$ ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/3354 "2024-04-10T14:47:04Z")
Back to the bond. Where’s the money? The bonding company should have deposited cash/securities with the court - escrow. What seems to my limited understanding was that Knight sent a nice note saying that they or the conman might pay up - maybe - any judgement. No bucks were passed. Knight has no goodwill with NY so the prosecutors aren’t buying that line. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/3355 "2024-04-10T14:52:01Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > Back to the bond. Where’s the money? The bonding company should have deposited cash/securities with the court - escrow Nope. The bond is just a promise to pay (or should be. This one isn’t, apparently). The bonding company doesn’t have to deposit the anything with the court. ETA: Which is why the court needs to make sure the company is legit and the promise is airtight. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/3356 "2024-04-10T15:29:45Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > The bond is just a promise to pay (or should be. This one isn’t, apparently). The bonding company doesn’t have to deposit the anything with the court. ETA: Which is why the court needs to make sure the company is legit and the promise is airtight. (or should be. This one isn’t, apparently). But yes, the bonding company doesn’t have to put the money is escrow; it just needs to demonstrate the financial capability to pay it immediately if required. Which Knight have not done. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/3357 "2024-04-10T15:51:28Z")
We promise that Trump will promise to pay you Tuesday for a hamberder today. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/3358 "2024-04-10T16:03:57Z")
Stealing. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/3359 "2024-04-10T18:55:36Z")
How is this not fraud? ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/3360 "2024-04-10T19:02:58Z")
Well, as long as @Johnny_L.A credits @Euphonious_Polemic as the source, it’s not plagiarism. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/3361 "2024-04-10T19:25:44Z")
> I’m sorry, Folks, but that is _not_ a real Bond. –Ian Fleming [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991.md?page=167) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991.md?page=169)