There was a recent pivotal moment in the ongoing civil fraud proceedings against former President Donald Trump as he takes the stand to testify.
The case, initiated by New York Attorney General Letitia James in September last year, alleges that Trump and several associates artificially inflated asset values within the Trump Organization to secure favorable terms from banks and insurance companies.
Overseen by Justice Arthur Engoron of the New York Supreme Court, the bench trial began on October 2. According to the Epoch Times, it has seen testimonies from a cadre of financial professionals associated with the Trump Organization, including Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., who both hold executive vice president positions at the company. Ivanka Trump, previously a defendant, is slated to testify this Wednesday.
Trump, alongside Trump Organization entities and top executives, steadfastly denies any wrongdoing. The legal battle could potentially shape the future of Trump’s real estate holdings. In earlier depositions and press statements, Trump has consistently valued his properties above the figures reported in the organization’s financial statements.
On his way into court, Trump, addressing a reporter’s question, affirmed his readiness to testify and characterized the lawsuit as a political attack orchestrated by the Biden administration, meant to distract from other global and domestic issues.
Trump drew attention to a recent poll by The New York Times/CBS indicating a lead for him in a political context, contrasting it with what he termed as President Biden’s poor polling performance. He disparaged the motives of those behind the case, likening the situation to “political warfare” more common in non-democratic nations.
He further indicated his intentions to emerge victorious in future elections and criticized what he perceives as efforts by his opponents to undermine the country. A recent social media post by Trump featured Attorney General James in campaign mode, vowing to target Trump legally, bolstering his claims that the lawsuit is politically motivated.
Trump’s itinerary involves a post-trial departure to Mar-a-Lago this evening. His lawyer, Alina Habba, is expected to address the media outside the courthouse, though Trump himself is not scheduled to make any public comments during court recesses.
