Former President Donald Trump, Attorney General Letitia James go head-to-head in civil fraud case in New York City
LOWER MANHATTAN, New York City (WABC) — A defiant former President Donald Trump faced off against New York attorney General Letitia James at his civil fraud trial in New York City on Monday.
James claims Trump engaged in years of financial fraud to unjustly enrich himself and “cheat the system”:
She spoke to reporters ahead of the trial saying, “My message is simple. no matter how powerful you are, no matter how much money you think you may have, no one is above the law, and it is my responsibility and my duty to enforce it. The law is both powerful and fragile, and today in court we will prove our case. I thank you all for being here and again justice will prevail, thank you.”
Trump stopped to provide a statement as well, immediately calling the AG’s case against him “a witch hunt.”
“This has to do with election interference plain and simple,” a fiery Trump said in the hallway of the courthouse in Lower Manhattan. He said his properties are worth much more than the attorney general claims. “Now, I have to go before a corrupt judge,” Trump said. “The people of this country will not stand for it.”
He added, “This is a disgrace.”
Trump also brought up the crime rate in New York City and blamed the attorney general and “corrupt judges.”
The four attorneys appearing beside the former president are Christopher Kise, Trump’s lead personal attorney; Alina Habba, Trump’s personal attorney; Clifford Robert, attorney for Trump’s sons; and Alan Garten, attorney for the Trump Organization.
The trip was voluntary for Trump, but control over some of his most prized real estate holdings are in jeopardy.
Judge Arthur Engoron, who is presiding over the non-jury trial, ruled last week that Trump committed fraud in his business dealings.
Along with the former president, his two eldest sons, Trump Organization executive, and former lawyer-turned-foe Michael Cohen are all listed among dozens of potential witnesses.
James, a Democrat, is seeking $250 million in penalties and a ban on doing business in New York.
Engoron’s ruling of last week, if upheld on appeal, would also shift control of some of his companies to a court-appointed receiver and could force him to give up prized New York properties such as Trump Tower, a Wall Street office building, golf courses and a suburban estate.
Trump called it a “a corporate death penalty.”
“We have a clause in the contract, it’s like a buyer beware clause, it says if you take a look at the financial statement, don’t believe anything you read. This is up front. Don’t believe anything you read. Some people call it a worthless clause because it makes the statement and anything you read in the statement worthless,” Trump said.
“I have a Deranged, Trump Hating Judge, who RAILROADED this FAKE CASE through a NYS Court at a speed never before seen,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
In his post Sunday night, Trump wrote that Engoron is “unfair, unhinged, and vicious in his PURSUIT of me.”
Engoron will decide on six remaining claims in James’ lawsuit, including allegations of conspiracy, falsifying business records and insurance fraud.
James’ lawsuit accused Trump and his company of a long list of fibs in the financial statements he gave to banks. In a recent court filing, James’ office alleged Trump exaggerated his wealth by as much as $3.6 billion.
James’ lawsuit is one of several legal headaches for Trump as he campaigns for a return to the White House in next year’s election. He has been indicted four times since March, accused of plotting to overturn his 2020 election loss, hoarding classified documents and falsifying business records related to hush money paid on his behalf.
The trial could last into December, Engoron said.
(The Associated Press contributed to this story)
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