Former President Donald Trump's $175 million bond had to be reduced as part of a civil fraud case in New York. However, it wasn't Trump himself who fronted the bill.

California billionaire Don Hankey, a known Trump supporter and a figure in the subprime auto loan industry, covered the bond instead, as reported by the Washington Post, USA Today.

Without Hankey's intervention, Trump would have had to dip into his own funds to pay the bond or risk having his properties seized by authorities.

This action came at a critical time for Trump, who faced hefty penalties from two civil cases totaling over $450 million.

Trump expressed his frustration in a social media post, criticizing the judicial process.

Hankey, whose net worth is estimated at $7.4 billion according to Forbes, is renowned in the world of subprime auto loans. His business empire, including Westlake Financial Services, spans various auto-related services and assets amounting to over $22.5 billion.

Hankey's journey to success started humbly, working as a car washer before venturing into auto sales and eventually establishing his empire.

Pursuit of Trial Delay

Donald Trump's legal team is striving to delay the commencement of his criminal trial concerning hush money payments, scheduled for April 15.

Despite multiple attempts, including requests for trial postponement and judge recusal, Trump's efforts have faced significant resistance from Judge Juan Merchan, CNN noted.

Merchan has consistently rejected motions for trial postponement due to publicity and declined requests for his recusal based on alleged bias.

Trump's legal strategy seems geared towards pushing all trials beyond the 2024 election.

Merchan has delayed the trial previously but appears reluctant to further postpone it. Additionally, he dismissed Trump's request to await a Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity.

Manhattan prosecutors have opposed Trump's motions, arguing that pretrial publicity won't cease and that any potential bias can be addressed during jury selection.

Hankey's History and Its Implications

California billionaire Don Hankey's financial support for Trump isn't without controversy.

His company, Westlake Services, faced legal trouble in the past, including a lawsuit from the Justice Department for unlawful lending practices targeting military personnel, according to The Daily Beast.

The lawsuit revealed that Westlake unlawfully repossessed cars belonging to servicemembers, violating the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA).

Westlake settled the case, paying damages to affected service members and fines to the government.

This history is crucial in understanding Hankey's loan to Trump.

His firm's clashes with federal authorities and potential implications under a Trump administration shed light on the significance of his financial support to the former president.

Hankey's wealth, derived from subprime auto loans, reflects a pattern of targeting low-income customers with high-interest loans.

Prior penalties from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau further underline Hankey's contentious business practices.

Don Hankey's backing of Donald Trump's $175 million bond intertwines with his business history, providing context to his involvement in the former president's legal affairs.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Ross Key

WATCH: Bombshell bribe? Trump's billionaire ally finances his jaw-dropping $175 million bond - From MSNBC