During four hours of testimony in a Manhattan courtroom today, Donald Trump repeatedly attacked the judge overseeing the trial and defended himself against accusations of fraudulently misvaluing his properties.
On the witness stand, the former president acknowledged helping assemble documents stating the value of his properties, which a judge had already decided were filled with fraud and which are central to the New York attorney general’s lawsuit against him.
But he denied being involved in undervaluations and insisted that the financial statements were ultimately of little importance.
The judge in the case, Justice Arthur Engoron, became frustrated as he repeatedly sought to rein in Trump, whose asides included proclaiming the proceeding was “a very unfair trial” and calling the New York attorney general “a political hack.” At one point, Trump complained that the judge had “called me a fraud and he didn’t know anything about me.”What’s next: Ivanka Trump will testify on Wednesday.
What’s at stake: New York’s attorney general, Letitia James, who brought the case, has asked that Trump pay $250 million and that he and his sons be permanently barred from running a business in the state.
Persons:
Donald Trump, Arthur Engoron, “, Trump, ” What’s, Ivanka Trump, What’s, Letitia James
Organizations:
New, Trump
Locations:
Manhattan, New York, undervaluations, Trump