Donald Trump Jr. Appears Again in Court Amid New York Civil Fraud Case

Donald Trump Jr. resumed his testimony on Monday in the ongoing New York civil fraud trial, a pivotal moment in the legal proceedings against his father’s real estate conglomerate.

Two weeks following his initial testimony, Donald Trump’s eldest son made his appearance again in court. His previous session was part of a series of testimonies that included his father, former President Donald Trump, and his siblings, Eric and Ivanka Trump.

Upon taking the stand, Trump Jr. humorously remarked to the judge, “You thought you were rid of me, your honor.”

Serving as the Trump Organization’s executive vice president, Trump Jr. had earlier testified on November 1 and 2, distancing himself from the annual financial statements at the center of the lawsuit filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James. He stated his reliance on the company’s senior finance executive and external accounting experts for the verification of these statements’ accuracy.

Related to this case are several key stories, including the continuation of Donald Trump’s civil fraud trial despite a request for an early conclusion, Trump’s criticism of the judge and NY attorney general during his testimony, and allegations of substantial fraud against Trump in the NY lawsuit.

Attorney General James accuses Donald Trump, his company, and key executives, including his sons, of grossly inflating their wealth by billions on financial statements presented to banks and insurers for securing loans and making deals. James seeks over $300 million, claiming these were unlawfully gained profits, and demands a ban on the defendants’ business operations in New York.

Before the trial, Judge Arthur Engoron found that the defendants had committed fraud through overvaluation of net worth and assets in financial statements. This decision could potentially lead to the loss of prominent Trump properties like Trump Tower. However, an appeals court currently allows Trump to maintain control over these assets.

The Trump family denies any misconduct, with their attorneys arguing that the state’s accusations of conspiracy, insurance fraud, and falsifying business records do not meet the required legal standards. The state concluded its case last Wednesday after six weeks and testimony from over two dozen witnesses, including company insiders, accountants, bank officials, and Michael Cohen, Trump’s former confidant.

Despite a defense plea to prematurely conclude the trial, Judge Engoron proceeded with the case as planned.

Trump’s lawyer, Christopher Kise, argued for the defendants’ acquittal, stating that the state’s case only involved successful loan transactions with no identifiable victims or complainants.

Donald Trump Jr., reiterating his father’s stance, previously labeled the lawsuit as a politically motivated attack by James, a Democrat, aimed at undermining Trump’s potential 2024 presidential candidacy. Trump Jr. expressed concern about the precedent this case sets for New York, criticizing the assumption of his guilt before a trial, based on his reliance on accountants for financial matters.

During Monday’s session, Trump Jr. faced questions first from his defense team, followed by cross-examination from a state attorney. His testimony, scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, is to be followed by a tax lawyer’s testimony, who also appeared as a state witness earlier.

The defense plans to bring several expert witnesses to challenge the state’s claims that Trump’s financial statements influenced better loan terms, insurance premiums, and were instrumental in dealmaking.

Following Donald Trump’s assumption of the presidency in 2017, he delegated the daily management of his company to Eric and Donald Trump Jr., appointing the latter as a trustee of a trust holding his assets while in office.

In his prior testimony, Trump Jr. stated he did not recall working on his father’s financial statements and as a trustee, he approved them based on assurances from external accountants and the then-finance chief, Allen Weisselberg.

Trump Jr. emphasized his reliance on the expertise of these individuals, acknowledging his duty to trust their comprehensive knowledge and judgment in financial matters.

For more information, follow journalist Michael Sisak at x.com/mikesisak, and submit confidential tips at https://www.ap.org/tips.

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More about Trump Jr. Testimony

• Donald Trump Jr. Testifies in NY Fraud Trial
• Allegations Against Trump’s Real Estate Empire
• New York Attorney General’s Lawsuit Details
• The Trump Family’s Defense Strategy
• Impact of the Trial on Trump Properties