Trump’s testimony got off to a contentious start Monday, with state Judge Arthur Engoron admonishing him to keep his answers concise and reminding him that “this is not a political rally.”
“We don’t have time to waste,” the exasperated judge said at one point. At another, turning to Trump’s attorney, the judge said, “I beseech you to control him if you can. If you can’t, I will.”
The civil trial is one of numerous legal proceedings Trump is confronting, including federal and state charges accusing him of crimes including illegally keeping classified documents and scheming to overturn the 2020 presidential election. His legal and political strategies have now become completely intertwined as he hopscotches between campaign events and court hearings — a schedule that will only intensify once his criminal trials begin.
TRUMP: I’M WORTH BILLIONS OF DOLLARS MORE
Though the fraud case doesn’t carry the prospect of prison as the criminal prosecutions do, its allegations of financial improprieties cut to the heart of the brand he spent decades crafting, and the suggestion that Trump is worth less than he’s claimed has been interpreted by him as a cutting insult.
“I’m worth billions of dollars more than the financial statements,” he said, telling a state lawyer, “You go around and try and demean me and try and hurt me, probably for political reasons.”
Before Monday, Trump’s speaking had occurred outside the courtroom, where he had taken full advantage of the bank of assembled media to voice his outrage and spin the day’s proceedings most favourably. But his turn on the witness stand gave him the biggest opportunity yet to respond to the details against him.
TRUMP FINED FOR VIOLATING GAG ORDER
Tensions between Engoron and Trump, already on display in recent weeks, when the judge fined him a total of $15,000 for incendiary outside-of-court comments, were evident Monday when the ex-president was repeatedly scolded about the length and content of his answers.
“Mr Kise, can you control your client? This is not a political rally. This is a courtroom,” Engoron told Trump lawyer Christopher Kise, who himself has clashed with the judge.
Kise responded that Trump was entitled to latitude as a former president and current candidate taking time away from the campaign to be on the witness stand.
“The court needs to hear what he has to say about these statements, why they’re viable and why there was no intent” to deceive anyone, Kise said.
TRUMP COMMITTED FRAUD
Engoron ruled in September that Trump’s financial statements contained fraud. Engoron’s earlier ruling, was unsparing, saying the defendants lived in a “fantasy world” by claiming he could ignore any asset valuations, and that Trump might have built his fortune on something less savoury than “savvy investing.”
That left for trial whether Trump and the other defendants should pay the $250 million in penalties that James wants, and whether to ban Trump from New York state real estate business.
Source: CNA
