Donald Trump Condemns ‘Election Interference’ in Civil Fraud Trial in New York

Donald Trump’s court appearances are causing a storm. The ex-president returned Thursday for the final stages of his civil trial in New York on financial fraud charges, but was forced to let his lawyers defend him in the courtroom even as he again denounced “election interference” in the hallways midway through the presidential campaign. 2024.

The former White House tenant, who dreams of returning there, is accused along with his sons Eric and Donald Jr. of colossally inflating the value of skyscrapers, luxury hotels or golf courses at the heart of their empire, the Trump Organization, in the 2010s. get more favorable loans from banks and better insurance conditions. New York State Attorney General Letitia James, who filed a civil lawsuit alleging financial fraud in the fall of 2022, is seeking $370 million in damages.

Since the trial began Oct. 2, the 77-year-old billionaire and tribune has railed against justice every time he appears in a courtroom or the hallways of a Manhattan courthouse, denouncing a political or political “witch hunt.” a test worthy of a banana republic.” Returning to the civil court on Thursday, he once again spoke to the press, criticizing “political interference”, “election interference at the highest level” and a “very unfair trial”.

Trump wanted to protect himself

For three months now, lawyers for the Trump clan have considered the case legally empty. But the front-runner in the GOP primary, which opens Jan. 15 in Iowa, wanted to ensure his defense Thursday. One of his lawyers, Chris Kice, wrote to Judge Arthur Engoron in early January to inform him of his high-profile client’s wishes.

Regarding the feasibility and terms of such an exclusive request, the magistrate judge abruptly rejected the request Wednesday, according to an exchange of emails included in the court filing. He didn’t want to risk the former president “giving a campaign speech” in the courtroom.

Me Kise initially tried to delay the trial until January 29, claiming that Donald Trump’s mother-in-law “died” on Tuesday and that he was “very close to her.” The request was rejected by Judge Engoron, who then issued an ultimatum on Wednesday so Donald Trump could speak on the terms: “Take it or leave it. Now or never. You have until noon in seven minutes. I AM NOT GIVING ANY ADDITIONAL DELAY.”

Clashes between Trump and magistrate judge

A quarter of an hour later, the judge ruled: on Thursday, the former president “will not appear in court tomorrow.” In a sign of the tension surrounding the trial, police in Nassau County, on the Long Island peninsula east of New York, confirmed that Judge Engoron’s home had been the subject of an unfounded bomb threat. At the hearing, Donald Trump viciously attacked Judge Engoron’s team, as well as prosecutor James. The magistrate imposed two fines totaling $15,000.

Unlike the criminal trials facing him this year, including for alleged maneuvers to overturn the results of the November 2020 presidential election, Donald Trump does not risk going to prison in this civil case. But he plays for high stakes and things get off to a bad start.

Even before the trial opened, Judge Engoron estimated in late September that the prosecution had presented “compelling evidence that, between 2014 and 2021, the defendants overvalued the assets” of the group by “$812 million (to) $2.2 billion,” depending on the year , according to figures recorded in Donald Trump’s annual financial filings.

As a result of “repeated fraud,” he ordered the liquidation of companies managing his assets, such as the Trump Tower on 5th Avenue in Manhattan and the 40 skyscraper on Wall Street. However, the measures were suspended by the appeal court. The lawsuit involves several other crimes, such as insurance fraud and financial penalties, requested by the New York State Attorney General’s Office, which is now seeking $370 million rather than $250 million in the original complaint. It remains for Judge Engoron to close the proceedings in the coming days and determine the amount of damages and compensation.