So even if he had the wealth to support the larger bond (cash for the premium and collateral enough to get the bonder comfortable), it might be worth taking a flyer to see if the judge might accept a smaller amount.

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I'm kind of suprised that the difference between a $100 million dollar bond and a $500 million dollar bond is "only" $4 to $12 million dollars, especially for someone with his dodgy financials and track record of incurring more avoidable expenses by shooting off his mouth and worsening his financial picture seemingly by the day.

With any other defendent, who behaved in court, expressed some semblance of remorse or at least NOTHING towards the process and the judge, the economics of this argument make sense and might have a chance.

With THIS defendant, who blatently displayed contempt for the process, the court and the judge in and out of the courtroom, this "counter-offer" comes across as yet more contempt for the judicial system. If I were a rational person in Trump's camp, I would look at this request as posing the possibility of further antagonizing a judge who merely by following the letter of the law could provide no leniency and trigger a complete financial meltdown of Trump's empire.

Of course, if the judge DOES exactly this and exercises no discretionary leniency in this matter, that's exactly what could happen here. It may be the case that Trump literally has nothing to lose because if he is at the point of having to counter-offer a bond requirement, he is already at his financial limit.

WTH