[ad_1]
After further testy exchanges between the judge and Trump’s lawyers, the former president commented: “This is a very unfair trial … I hope the public is watching.”
The theatrical start of Trump’s testimony underscored what has become a deeply personal case for the Republican, as it goes to the heart of the billionaire tycoon reputation Trump has spent years crafting, both professionally and politically.
Engoron has already found Trump liable of committing widespread fraud in a pre-trial ruling and has temporarily stripped his control over some of his signature New York properties. As such, this hearing is to determine the penalties Trump should face.
New York Attorney-General Letitia James is seeking damages of up to $US250 million ($392 million) in fines. She also wants a permanent ban on Trump and his sons, Eric and Donald Jnr, from running businesses in New York, plus a five-year commercial real estate ban for Trump and the Trump Organisation.
Trump, however, insists he is innocent and that his various properties – which include Trump Tower in Manhattan and Mar-a-Lago Resort in Miami – were not inflated.
“They said Mar-a-Lago was worth $18 million. Mar-a-Lago is worth probably 50 to 100 times more than that,” he told reporters outside the courtroom before his testimony.
“While Israel is being attacked, while Ukraine is being attacked, while inflation is eating our country alive, I’m here and it’s all political opponents attacking us … This is really election interference.”
Trump’s sons Donald Jnr and Eric Trump testified last week, seeking to blame accountants for any errors found on financial statements. Their sister Ivanka is due to testify on Wednesday.
The civil trial sets the scene for a wave of other trials Trump will also face next year as he campaigns to return to the White House.
Loading
They include a trial in New York over hush money payments; a criminal trial in Georgia over alleged electoral interference in that state; another one in Florida over classified documents; and a fourth in Washington DC for his attempt to overturn Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory.
Speaking before she entered court, James – a Democrat – said: “I am sure that he will engage in name-calling, taunts, race baiting and call this a witch hunt.
“But at the end of the day, the only thing that matters are the facts and the numbers – and numbers, my friends, don’t lie.”
[ad_2]
Source link