Trump NYC Court Double-Header: Hush-Money Trial Set, $464M Bond Falls

NEW YORK CITY — Former President Donald Trump faced the legal equivalent of a double-header in New York courts — and notched a win and loss.

Back-to-back decisions on Trump's appeal in his civil fraud verdict and upcoming porn star hush-money cases unfolded within minutes Monday.

First, state appellate judges ruled Trump wouldn't have to pony up $464 million to appeal his fraud verdict. They lowered his bond to a still-sizable $175 million, with a 10-day deadline to post it.

Then, Manhattan Judge Juan Merchan set Trump's hush-money trial for April 15 — a decision that apparently rankled the former president, who contended the case only was being brought forward because he's running again for the White House.

"It's a sad day for the country," Trump said in a news conference.

The civil fraud appeal decision, however, temporarily spares Trump the potentially embarrassing prospect of former Attorney General Letitia James seizing his properties to enforce the judgment by Judge Arthur Engoron, who last month ruled the former president must pay a $355 million penalty, plus interest, for fraudulently overstating his wealth.

Trump originally had to post a nearly half-billion-dollar bond in order to appeal, but he raised doubts in recent days that he could secure backing.

The new ruling sets up a bond that likely still will wipe up out much of Trump's available cash, but be easier for him to post.

"We will abide by the decision of the Appellate Division, and post either a bond, equivalent securities, or cash," Trump posted on his Truth Social account.

"This also shows how ridiculous and outrageous Engoron’s original decision was at $450 Million. I DID NOTHING WRONG, AND NEW YORK SHOULD NEVER BE PUT IN A POSITION LIKE THIS AGAIN."

But Trump didn't have much time to celebrate the partial victory in the civil fraud case before a ruling in his separate, criminal hush-money came less than favorably Monday in a hearing attended by the former president himself.

Trump's hush-money trial will start April 15, ruled Judge Juan Merchan in a hearing attended by the former president himself.

Attorneys for Trump had originally sought a longer delay from this original Monday trial date, while Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg argued only a 30-day pause was necessary.

Merchan appeared to largely agree with Bragg, and also scolded Trump's attorney for accusing prosecutors of concealing documents at the heart of the delay.

"That you don't have a case right now is really disconcerting because the allegation that the defense makes in all of your papers is incredibly serious. Unbelievably serious," Merchan said. "You're accusing the Manhattan district attorney's office and the people involved in this case of prosecutorial misconduct and of trying to make me complicit in it. And you don't have a single cite to support that position."

Read more: Judge Sets April 15 Trial Date In Trump's New York Hush Money Case

The Associated Press contributed to this report.