Former President Trump took the stand on Monday in the civil trial against him and his businesses, calling the case a “disgrace” and demanding a jury. Trump was testifying in response to a lawsuit filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James, who alleges that he and his family fraudulently inflated the value of his assets and deceived banks and insurers.
Trump vehemently denied any wrongdoing, insisting that his net worth is actually “far greater” than what is stated on his financial statements. He also argued that the disclaimers on his statements make it clear that the numbers should be evaluated by the banks.
“This case is a disgrace,” Trump stated, claiming that James has “no case” against him. He also accused the attorney general of using the investigation and lawsuit for political gain, calling her a “political hack.”
Trump’s testimony lasted for over five hours, with his attorneys praising his performance as “brilliant” and stating that they have “never had a witness testify better” in their 33 years of practice.
On the other hand, James’ office released a statement saying that they had no option to choose a jury trial under the consumer protection statute. They also expressed disappointment that a jury won’t be able to hear the “absurdity” of the case.
During his testimony, Trump criticized the judge in the case, Arthur Engoron, for ruling against him without knowing anything about him. He also called the judge’s ruling that he committed fraud while building his real estate empire “unfair,” and questioned how he could be called a fraud when his property in Florida is worth 50-100 times more than the value assigned to it by the court.
Trump’s attorney, Alina Habba, also joined in the criticism of the judge, stating that she was yelled at and not allowed to object during the proceedings. She also accused James of “taunting” Trump before she even had access to any financial records. Habba also pointed out that James had previously made derogatory remarks about Trump’s administration being “too male and too pale.”
Trump is in the courtroom for his NY civil trial.
Before entering he doubles down on what he calls political warfare:pic.twitter.com/6gRqHollSP
— The Middle Man (@MiddleManEC) November 6, 2023
Trump’s testimony primarily centered on the terms of loan agreements and his belief that he complied with them. He also stated that he paid off a particular loan early as he had a lot of cash available. Trump maintained that his net worth is “far greater” than the financial statements submitted to banks and that the disclaimers on the statements make it clear that the lender must do their own due diligence.
The judge and James’ attorneys expressed frustration with Trump’s repetitive answers, with the judge stating that it sounded like a “broken record.” However, Trump’s defense argued that if the attorney kept asking the same questions, they would keep getting the same answers.
Trump’s testimony concluded on Monday afternoon, and his daughter, Ivanka Trump, is set to testify on Wednesday. The trial is expected to continue for several more days, with both sides presenting their case and calling witnesses to testify.
The outcome of this trial could have significant implications for Trump’s businesses and future political aspirations. As the 2024 Republican front-runner, Trump has a lot at stake in this trial, and his combative demeanor on the stand showed that he is not backing down without a fight. The case also highlights the ongoing legal battles faced by the former president, who continues to fight several other lawsuits and investigations.