Former U.S. President Donald Trump took the witness stand in a New York civil fraud trial, where he vehemently disputed accusations of deceiving banks and defended his family’s business.
The trial revolves around allegations that the Trump Organization intentionally overvalued its properties to secure more favorable loans and insurance policies.
During his nearly four-hour testimony at the Manhattan federal courthouse, Trump was questioned about the valuations of various properties, including Mar-a-Lago in Florida, Trump Tower in New York, and a golf course in Scotland.
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Prosecutors have claimed that these valuations were artificially inflated in financial statements.
Trump, who is currently the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, stood by the valuations, describing them as “very conservative” and asserting that his personal brand significantly enhanced property values, even though this factor was not included in financial statements.
He engaged in heated exchanges with prosecutors and responded to questions about the valuations with lengthy and sometimes meandering explanations.
Judge Arthur Engoron, presiding over the trial, issued rebukes, at one point urging Trump to “just answer the questions” and later stating, “This is not a political rally, this is a courtroom.”
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The lawsuit was brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James and names Trump, along with his sons Eric and Donald Jr., and other Trump Organization executives, as defendants. They all deny any wrongdoing.
Judge Engoron will determine the trial’s outcome, and this could result in a multimillion-dollar fine and potential restrictions on the defendants’ ability to do business in New York.
Throughout his testimony, Trump blamed the Trump Organization accountants for the financial reports, claiming that he merely authorized and provided the necessary information for the accountants to create the statements.
As Trump left the courtroom, he labeled the case a “fraud” and expressed his belief that his testimony had gone well.
Legal and political analysts have offered varying interpretations of Trump’s combative approach, with some suggesting it was a strategic move and others believing he was using the platform to campaign.
Ultimately, the trial’s outcome will have significant implications for Trump’s legal battles, both in New York and beyond.
The trial will continue, with Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, expected to provide her testimony on Wednesday.
This case is one of several legal challenges faced by the former president, including four criminal indictments related to his alleged actions during and after the 2020 election.
