Trump is expected to attend New York fraud trial again Thursday as testimony nears an end

The former President, Donald Trump, is anticipated to make a return appearance at his civil business fraud trial in New York this Thursday as the testimony phase approaches its conclusion. Trump has played various roles in this trial, from a frustrated observer to a confrontational witness and a vocal commentator outside the courtroom. Now, he is preparing to take center stage as the star witness for his own defense.

After more than two months of testimony, court officials, Trump’s legal team, and his aides have indicated that he will attend the trial voluntarily on Thursday as a spectator. On that day, his legal team plans to call an accounting professor to testify on crucial financial matters related to the case. Following this, Trump himself is scheduled to take the witness stand for a second time on the upcoming Monday.

Despite his active campaigning to regain the presidency and dealing with four criminal cases, Trump has dedicated significant attention to this New York lawsuit. The case revolves around the scrutiny of his net worth, examining the real estate empire that initially built his reputation and potentially obstructing his ability to conduct business in his home state.

The lawsuit, filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James, accuses Trump, his company, and certain executives of misleading banks and insurers by providing them with financial statements that inflated the values of his signature assets, such as the Trump Tower penthouse and Mar-a-Lago in Florida, where he currently resides. These statements were used to secure various deals, including loans with favorable interest rates for high-net-worth individuals, and some loans required annual updates to these statements.

Trump vehemently denies any wrongdoing, asserting that the numbers on the statements actually underestimated his wealth. He downplays the importance of these documents in securing deals, stating that it was evident that lenders and other parties should have conducted their own analyses. He also contends that the case is politically motivated and represents an abuse of power by Attorney General James and Judge Arthur Engoron, both of whom are Democrats.

Trump has regularly expressed his views on the case through his Truth Social platform, often characterizing it as a partisan attack. He has emphasized the lack of victims, the quality of the financial statements, and the inclusion of a comprehensive disclaimer clause. However, he maintains that the case is tainted by a corrupt Attorney General and judge.

While Trump is not obligated to attend the trial when he is not testifying, doing so provides him with a platform, as he can address the media through numerous microphones set up in the hallway outside the courtroom. He frequently stops to comment on developments as he enters and exits the proceedings, even though cameras are not allowed inside the courtroom. These out-of-court remarks led to a $10,000 fine on October 26, as Judge Engoron determined that Trump had violated a gag order prohibiting trial participants from making public comments about court staff. Trump’s lawyers are currently appealing this gag order.

Attorney General James has not remained silent in response to Trump’s remarks. She has personally appeared in court on days when Trump is present and made her own statements on social media and in front of the courthouse. Despite instructions for lawyers in the case not to make press statements in the hallway, Trump has been an exception.

In the midst of this non-jury trial, which includes allegations of conspiracy, insurance fraud, and falsifying business records, Judge Engoron ruled in advance that Trump and other defendants were involved in fraud. He ordered the appointment of a receiver to take control of some of Trump’s properties, although an appeals court has temporarily stayed that order.

During the trial, Attorney General James is seeking penalties exceeding $300 million and a prohibition on Trump and other defendants from conducting business activities in New York. While the exact conclusion of testimony remains uncertain, it is expected to wrap up before Christmas, with closing arguments scheduled for January and a decision anticipated by the end of that month.

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• New York Times: Trump is expected to attend New York fraud trial
• CNN: Trump’s defense at civil fraud trial zooms in on Mar-a-Lago
• ABC News: Banker involved in big loans to Trump’s company testifies for his defense
• Reuters: New York attorney general seeks $300 million in penalties from Trump
• The Washington Post: Appeals court reinstates a gag order on Donald Trump