Jesse Scheckner
A Miami-Dade County woman is running a GoFundMe page to help former President Donald Trump cover a $355 million civil court judgment.
Elena Cardone, an Aventura resident, launched the page Friday to assist Trump in facing an “unprecedented and unfair treatment by certain judicial elements in New York.”
“This is more than a legal fund; it’s a call to all business owners and entrepreneurs to rally in defense of all businesses and for a man who has never hesitated to stand in defense of us,” she wrote on the page. “It’s about making a stand. It’s about showing that when one of us is targeted for championing the values that make America great, he does not stand alone.”
By 3 p.m. Sunday, the page recorded 6,300 donations totaling $286,000. The average donation was $49. The top donation, so far, was $5,000 from someone named Aaron Jones, whom some people are ridiculing on the social media site, Reddit, using a GIF of Forrest Gump.
On Friday, New York Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron ordered Trump to pay $355 million in penalties, finding that the former President lied about his wealth for years in a sweeping civil fraud verdict.
The verdict pierced Trump’s billionaire image but stopped short of putting his real estate empire out of business and marked a staggering setback for the presumptive GOP nominee for President.
Trump, who decried Friday’s decision as “a lawless and unconstitutional atrocity,” has vowed to appeal and won’t have to pay immediately. Under state law, he would be required to pay interest on the penalties, which New York Attorney General Leticia James said could hold him accountable for more than $450 million in damages.
Combined with other fines — including $83.3 million in penalties to the writer E. Jean Carroll for damaging her reputation after she accused him of sexual assault — the former President’s legal debts might now exceed a half-billion dollars.
Cardona announced the GoFundMe effort in an X post just before 6 p.m. Friday. Its target is the full $355 million.
On her LinkedIn page, Cardona describes herself as a professional speaker on empowerment, relationships and family whose goal is “Restoring the Value of Women to Society.”
She and her husband, private equity fund manager and internet celebrity Grant Cardone, co-authored the 2022 book “Build an Empire: How to Have it All.” It holds a 4.5-star out of a possible 5-star rating on Amazon with 172 reviews.
Speaking with ABC affiliate WPLG Miami, she said she has “never been a political person with my viewpoint, but this ruling really rocked me to the core.”
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This report uses material from The Associated Press, republished with permission.
18 comments
Mark Bunker
February 18, 2024 at 3:16 pm
Oh, I hope she pulls a Trump and keeps the money for herself. What greater tribute could there be?
Why Letitia
February 18, 2024 at 3:54 pm
Every real estate developer in this country probably inflates the value of their holdings. Did the banks get paid? Were they paid on time? Who made the complaint or was this just Letitia using a statute against someone she doesn’t like? With crime rampant in NYC, why waste resources going after someone that paid up vs going after the thugs, and violent criminals?
D. Trump
February 18, 2024 at 4:07 pm
How much are you going to donate? C’mon, pony up the cash, talk is cheap.
Fani Willis
February 18, 2024 at 4:12 pm
Don’t worry Donald. I don’t carry any credit cards but my cash donation is on its way. Pssst. Don’t tell the IRS.
D. Trump
February 18, 2024 at 4:17 pm
I hate you, Fani Willis — you’re female, Black, and prosecuting me — but I’ll treat you like anyone else and take your money. That’s the kind of guy I am.
Fani Willis
February 18, 2024 at 4:35 pm
Oh my Dear Donald. My hate for you as bigger than anything you can imagine. That’s why I have wasted millions of dollars of taxpayer money going after you. It has helped finance my trips with Mandingo though. Again I have cash all around my house so I will send you some. George Soros says hi by the way.
My Take
February 18, 2024 at 7:54 pm
“why waste resources going after” Trump?
===
It’s a wonderful mission.
I don’t consider a penny of it wasted.
Mark Thompson
February 19, 2024 at 4:58 pm
If you inflate the value of your holdings to get loans you don’t qualify for and then deflate the value of your holdings to pay lower taxes, that’s fraud against the government as well as your lenders.
Sounds like you think crimes should be selectively prosecuted.
Lisa
February 20, 2024 at 11:46 am
Your absolutely correct!!! Everything was paid on time. NY is so corrupt! Only the ignorant are buying any of this nonsense. Good luck to any businessman in NY, your next.
Phil Morton
February 18, 2024 at 3:42 pm
Trump is selling shoes, he doesn’t need this money. Of course he was booed at his shoe announcement so maybe he does.
Biscuit
February 18, 2024 at 4:01 pm
“…when one of us is targeted for championing the values that make America great…”
I’d donate, but I spent all my money on lawyers to defend me for cheating business partners out of millions, and for paying hush money to women I had affairs with, and for sexually assaulting a woman and then demonizing her, and for trying to overthrow an election…you know, spent the money on lawyers to defend the values that makes America great.
But hey, a wag of my tail to the man in orange.
Arf.
TJC
February 18, 2024 at 4:12 pm
“There’s a sucker born every minute.”
Here’s yet another opportunity for them to donate money to Donald Trump.
PeterH
February 18, 2024 at 4:18 pm
Is it my imagination or does anyone else believe that this is a grift scheme?
Atlanta Thug
February 18, 2024 at 4:57 pm
Fani has nothing to do with this as Fani deals in cash only. Fani better keep her house locked up as some of Fani’s fellow Democrats will be looking for Fani’s treasure chest.
Nebraska Granny
February 18, 2024 at 11:56 pm
Oh My God!!!!!!EEEK!!! Raising money for a rich man? To make America great again? Only in America, like those gold sneakers he’s hawking. SHEESH! I am speechless.🇺🇸☹️🙃🥺😮May the Lord have mercy on us.🇺🇸✝️🌎
June warncke
February 19, 2024 at 9:21 am
I think this is a disgrace, starting a go fund me page for Donald Trump. It makes me sick that they are even allowed to do that and raise money for someone who doesn’t not deserve it. It’s ridiculous and disgusting, the go fund me page is for people who deserve it. Donald is only using the money to pay his legal fees, he put himself in this situation why should people have to pay for us legal fees. And for anyone to start a go fund me page for Donald Trump is a disgrace to our country and the American people.
gross of TRAMP poopy diaper
February 19, 2024 at 9:34 am
The cool kids know that those gold “sneakers” are made in China, like the other MAGA shwag. However, my sources tell me that Tramp is getting ready to start selling his soiled adult diapers on-line- now that is TRUE MAGgot! So, save up and order a GROSS of DA TRAMP LOADED BROWN PANTS!
Christians Are Broke AF
March 2, 2024 at 6:45 pm
GoFundMe is Christianity’s answer for everything…
Comments are closed.