Today, Trump is scheduled to make an appearance in court for a civil fraud trial taking place in New York, involving a sum of $250 million.
As he arrives in court for the commencement of the $250 million New York civil fraud trial, Donald Trump criticizes the judge as a ‘rogue’ and refers to the Attorney General Letitia James as ‘racist’.
- On Monday, Trump is scheduled to make an appearance in a court located in Manhattan to commence the trial for fraud.
- He tore into AG Letitia James and the judge inside the state Supreme Court
- The ex-president and his sons are facing allegations of artificially increasing the worth of his assets.
Donald Trump railed against a ‘rogue’ judge and ‘racist’ attorney general in an explosive tirade at the start of his historic fraud trial in Manhattan on Monday.
The ex-president appeared at the beginning of a legal proceeding where he may be fined up to $250 million and could potentially have his licenses revoked for his real estate business in New York.
In a corridor within the New York Supreme Court building, Trump expressed his disapproval and strongly criticized Letitia James, the attorney general of New York state, referring to her as ‘racist’ and a ‘horror show’.
“I cannot reword”
James accuses Trump, the leading contender for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, of exaggerating the worth of his assets by billions of dollars in order to obtain more favorable loan insurance conditions.
Before the commencement of his civil fraud trial in New York on Monday, Donald Trump expressed anger towards the ‘rogue judge’, claiming that the prosecution was an ‘effort to harm his chances in an election’. He was observed seated behind the defense table during the initial hearing.
Trump can be seen inside New York Supreme court, flanked by lawyers Chris Kise and Alina Habba. Behind Trump to his right is state AG Letitia James, who he called a ‘horror show’ minutes before the start of his trial
Trump spoke outside the New York Supreme Court in Manhattan where the penalty phase of his trial is expected to last weeks, and where his team says he will take the stand in his defense
Trump alleged that the prosecution was being influenced by Washington, stating that “it all originates from the DOJ, they completely orchestrated this in Washington.”
He asserted that his attempt to regain the presidency was influenced by his performance in the polls.
Trump also stood up for the financial statements in question, which provided valuations for his properties.
He claimed that his financial statements are exceptional.
Trump argued that there were no victims in this case since the lenders who provided funds to his company were ultimately paid back.
Trump stated that he did not include his most valuable asset, his brand, when comparing his real estate and golf empire to Coca-Cola.
He claimed that his Mar-a-Lago property in Florida, which had been appraised by the court at a value of $18 million to $27 million, was actually worth ’50 to 100 times’ that amount.
Afterwards, Trump made his way into the courtroom and there was a brief period where cameras were permitted inside.
The ex-president appeared serious while seated at a table alongside his attorneys.
James positioned himself on a bench located a short distance away from Trump. He fixed his gaze upon him, while Judge Arthur Engoron removed his glasses and displayed a wide smile towards the camera.
Earlier, Trump mentioned in the hallway that it would be advisable to pursue action against the attorney general due to her discouraging everyone from entering.
This was an allusion to the economic conditions for businesses in the state of New York.
While en route to the courthouse, James accused Trump of committing consistent and repetitive fraud over several years.
She stated that regardless of one’s power or perceived wealth, nobody is exempt from the law.
After the federal judge in Washington, D.C., who is handling Trump’s criminal case related to January 6, cautioned against making statements that could prejudice potential jurors, Trump criticized the judge and prosecutors.
He also issued an angry all-caps blast on his Truth Social site before things got underway. ‘JUST ARRIVED AT THE COURTHOUSE TO FIGHT A CORRUPT & RACIST ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND A ROGUE, OUT OF CONTROL, TRUMP HATING JUDGE, WHO REFUSES TO FOLLOW THE APPELLATE COURT DECISION WHICH KNOKS OUT 80% OF THIS SHAM CASE. THIS IS THE CONTINUATION OF THE GREATEST WITCH HUNT OF ALL TIME. ELECTION INTERFERENCE!’
Trump arrived in a New York court surrounded by cops and protesters to face a judge in his $250 million civil fraud trial on Monday morning as his team blasted the ‘renegade judge’ who will decide his fate.
“I cannot reword.”
briefly removed his glasses inside the courtroom, where he had previously permitted cameras to be present.The individual initiated the court session by instructing the court on the correct pronunciation of his name.
James was seated on the side representing the prosecution, positioned a short distance behind the individual being accused. His legal representatives, Chris Kise and Alina Habba, were situated beside him.
The request made by a lawyer representing multiple media organizations to broadcast the trial was rejected by him. Nevertheless, he permitted five photographers to briefly capture images of Trump.
As Trump prepared for the start of the case, NYPD officers erected barricades to control the demonstrators who were demanding his imprisonment. The accusations against him involved inflating values in his property empire by as much as $2.2 billion.
“I cannot reword”
“This is simply election interference,” expressed Steven Cheung, spokesperson for the Trump campaign. “It appears to be their sole method of preventing his success.”
His arrival at the court in downtown Manhattan was accompanied by his son Eric and aide Margo Martin.
In a late-night rant on Truth Social, he criticized the judge and Attorney General Letitia James.
The $250 million fraud case kicked off when New York AG James accused Trump, his adult sons and the Trump Organization of inflating the value of his empire of properties by up $2.2 billion.
Last week, Justice Arthur Engoron strongly stated in a ruling that the probable Republican Presidential candidate consistently broke fraud laws in order to obtain advantageous loans from banks for his company and reduce its tax obligations.
The judge revoked the business licenses for certain Trump-owned businesses, potentially resulting in the loss of control over some of his most renowned properties.
Former President Donald Trump criticized Judge Arthur Engoron, who is presiding over his civil trial at the New York Supreme Court, referring to him as a ‘rogue’ judge. Additionally, he strongly criticized AG Letitia James.
The federal judge presiding over one of Trump’s criminal trials has cautioned him regarding his criticism towards prosecutors and court staff.
Judge Arthur Engoron briefly took off his glasses for a quick photo opportunity inside the courtroom.
Trump’s son Eric, who prosecutors may call in the case, arrived before his father
Alina Habba, a lawyer representing Trump, was seated next to him in the courtroom.
On Monday morning, Trump launched multiple verbal attacks against state Attorney General Letitia James.
After the judge’s ruling on summary judgement, Trump stood up for his financial statements, refuting the claim that he had exaggerated his assets by a total of $2 billion.
Trump labeled the charges against him as a fraudulent scheme and strongly criticized the judge and prosecutors. Furthermore, he supported the accuracy of his financial records.
NY Attorney General Letitia James stated that regardless of one’s power or wealth, nobody is exempt from the law.
Donald Trump was accompanied by law enforcement officers and demonstrators as he entered a New York courtroom to appear before a judge in his $250 million civil fraud case. He had traveled a short distance from Trump Tower to reach the court.
Eric Trump, one of those accused of inflating property values, walks through the corridors of the New York court room head of the hearing
The trial is anticipated to span three months and will primarily address six specific unresolved matters, including determining the appropriate penalty amount.
During the court session, Trump will be compelled to attentively hear prosecutors as they challenge his entire persona, which portrays him as a billionaire who achieved success on his own and eventually became the Leader of the Free World.
Instead, they will depict him as the leader of an astonishing scam that Judge Engoron determined was filled with exaggerated property valuations.
They included inflating the value of his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago by up to 10 times its $18 million worth.
Trump previewed what he believed he would face in a post on Truth Social, suggesting the bias of both James and Justice Engoron.
“I will be attending Court tomorrow morning to defend my name and reputation against Letitia James, a corrupt and racist Attorney General who ran her campaign on the promise of ‘going after Trump’,” he stated.
Margo Martin, a member of Trump’s team, accompanied him during his court hearing on Monday morning.
On Monday morning, New York Attorney General Letitia James conveyed a straightforward message to Trump, emphasizing that nobody is exempt from the law.
Lawyers with boxes of files arrive at court before Trump’s appearance in the fraud trial.
On Monday morning, there was a significant presence of law enforcement officers and media personnel in Downtown Manhattan. This was due to Donald Trump’s upcoming court appearance for his civil fraud trial, which involves a substantial sum of $250 million.
Former President Donald Trump was seen arriving at Trump Tower in Manhattan Sunday night ahead of the start of his civil fraud trial on Monday morning
He made multiple posts indicating that Engoron – whom he has called ‘deranged’ and ‘Trump-hating’ – was undervaluing his famous Mar-a-Lago estate.
“I cannot reword”
Protesters marched outside the court prior to Trump’s appearance, holding signs that depicted him behind bars.
Members of the press gathered outside as the Trump circus returned to New York
Accompanied by Secret Service and NYPD officers, Trump was dressed in a navy blue suit and a white button-down shirt, opting to not wear a tie as he entered.
As he arrived at approximately 11pm, barriers were set up around the 58-story building on Fifth Avenue.
Later on, he demanded the resignations of both Engoron and James, accusing them of intentionally and unlawfully interfering in the election.
“I cannot reword.”
In her statement on Monday morning, James alleged that Trump was attempting to manipulate the system.
She accused Donald Trump of consistently exaggerating his net worth for personal gain and to deceive the system.
Last week, we achieved success in establishing the basis of our argument and demonstrated that his alleged net worth has always been based on fraudulent activities.
“We anticipate showcasing the complete magnitude of his fraudulent and illegal activities during the trial, as this nation imposes penalties for such persistent deceit.”
In this country, regardless of wealth or influence, everyone is subject to the same laws.
It is imperative that the principle of equal application of the law is upheld for all individuals, and I have a duty to ensure its implementation.
On Monday, the civil trial will address what Trump, his businesses, his adult sons and his business associates did with that false information. This will just be one of several trials Trump is set to face from October to May.
As he has been in a constant feud with James, he has also called out Engoron for carrying out a ‘witch hunt’ on him. Engoran is the judge assigned to this trial and will have the final say on what happens next for the 45th President.
Last week, Engoron made a decision to dissolve Trump’s family business due to extensive fraudulent activities. This decision affected properties such as Trump Tower and the Trump International Hotel.
Just hours before the president was scheduled to travel from Trump Tower, barricades were being set up by NYPD officers outside the court.
Members of the press gathered outside as the Trump circus returned to New York
Accompanied by Secret Service and NYPD officers, Trump was dressed in a navy blue suit and a white button-down shirt, opting not to wear a tie as he entered.
As he arrived at approximately 11pm, barricades were set up surrounding the 58-story Fifth Avenue structure.
He previewed what he believed he would face in a post on Truth Social, suggesting the bias of both New York Attorney General Letitia James and Justice Arthur Engoron, who will be prosecuting and ruling over the case, respectively
“I will be attending Court tomorrow morning to defend my name and reputation against Letitia James, an Attorney General who I believe is corrupt and racist. She ran her campaign with the intention of targeting me, Donald Trump.”
Tomorrow, Donald Trump will be present at Trump Tower in New York before his scheduled court appearance.
After losing those properties, Trump has publicly expressed his thoughts on Justice Engoron’s ruling.
On social media, Trump expressed his frustration with a biased judge who he believes rushed through a fabricated case in a New York State Court.
According to Politico, Trump not only tried to postpone his trial but also claimed that the judge did not follow previous appeals, which he believed affected the scope of the case against him.
Engoron’s sudden ruling caught the former President’s legal team off guard, despite James’ discovery that Trump and his company had misled banks, insurers, and other parties by significantly inflating the value of his assets and overstating his net worth in documents utilized for business transactions and obtaining funding.
She also claimed that he increased the estimated worth by as much as $2 billion, artificially raising the value of notable properties such as the Mar-a-Lago club, where he currently lives, and his penthouse apartment in Trump Tower, located in Manhattan.
Engoron discovered that Trump, along with his company and important executives, consistently made false statements about them on his yearly financial reports. This deceit allowed them to benefit from advantages like more favorable loan conditions and reduced insurance costs.
Engoron has replied to Trump’s assertions by stating ‘I refuse to sign’ and ‘The arguments made by the defendants have no validity whatsoever.’
He previously held Trump in contempt of court and ordered him to pay $100,000 after he found out that he failed to comply with the subpoena ordered by James’s office.
From Monday onwards, the civil trial will focus on the actions taken by Trump, his businesses, his adult sons, and his business associates regarding the false information. This trial is just one among several that Trump is scheduled to face between October and May.
Donald Trump is scheduled to arrive in New York City on Sunday evening for his trial on civil fraud charges, which is set to take place on Monday. It is possible that he will remain in the city until Tuesday.
As he has been in a constant feud with James (pictured left), he has also called out Justice Arthur Engoron (pictured right) for carrying out a ‘witch hunt’ on him. Engoran is the judge assigned to this trial and will have the final say on what happens next for the 45th President
Engoron discovered that Trump, his company, and important executives consistently provided false information about their annual financial statements, which resulted in benefits such as more favorable loan conditions and reduced insurance costs.
Despite his current position as the frontrunner in the 2024 Republican Primary and his intention to run for president again, Trump will encounter several legal challenges in the upcoming months.
On January 15, he is scheduled to begin his federal defamation trial initiated by E. Jean Carroll.
On January 29th, a trial connected to a federal class action lawsuit alleging his involvement in a pyramid scheme will commence.
On March 4, Trump will be subjected to a federal criminal trial for allegedly attempting to meddle with the 2020 election.
On March 25th, he is scheduled to return to New York to face charges related to his supposed mishandling of classified documents.
The judge has determined that Trump committed fraud against banks during the process of constructing his real estate empire.
Engoron had previously found Trump in contempt of court and directed him to pay a fine of $100,000 when it was discovered that he had not followed the subpoena issued by James’s office.
Unless James specifically requests his testimony, he is not obligated to attend the civil trial, as per his current situation.
Up to this point, he has not made any court appearances for his federal civil trials that took place earlier this year.
Nonetheless, Trump’s schedule will be packed as he prepares for campaigning amidst his ongoing conflict with Biden’s justice department.
If he is found guilty of all the offenses, he could potentially be sentenced to 71 years in prison. It is important to note that unlike federal charges, state charges cannot be pardoned by a president.
Fani Willis, the District Attorney of Fulton County, initiated an investigation following the public disclosure of a phone conversation on January 2, 2021. The call involved former President Trump and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, during which Trump proposed that Raffensperger locate 11,780 votes, the exact number needed to surpass Joe Biden.
Trump has characterized his conversation with Raffensperger as flawless and has depicted the Democratic district attorney’s pursuit as driven by political motives.
The previous history between Trump and the judge is the reason behind this feud, not the actions of the Attorney General.
Trump and his co-defendants will be tried by Judge Engoron in a bench trial, without a jury.
Engoron has chosen not to provide any comments on Trump’s criticisms through a court representative. He is prohibited from speaking to the media regarding the case.
Engoron has been involved in Trump-related cases since 2020, when he was assigned to intervene in quarrels among Trump´s lawyers and James´ office over demands for evidence and the direction of her investigation.
Based on the result of Monday’s trial, it is possible that Trump may remain in New York City until Tuesday.
