NEW YORK (CNN) – After testifying at his civil fraud trial in New York on November 6, 2023, Donald Trump launches his defense against claims that he, his adult sons, and his business defrauded lenders and insurers to enrich themselves. The defense’s first witness is expected to be the former president’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr. Their goal is to convince the judge that they did not intentionally do anything wrong. Trump Jr., also a defendant in the case, confirmed that he did not participate in the preparation of his father’s financial statements or sign them off as trustee of his father’s trust.
Trump’s attorneys argue that the banks were satisfied with their business and have planned to recall some of the state’s witnesses as they present their defense to the allegations. The thrust of the Trump defense is that the financial statements were not misleading and that various values for the same property can be maintained by different people. The defense argues that there was no intent to defraud banks or insurers and that any differences in values on the properties were not meaningful.
According to the defense, no banks lost money from their misleading financial statements, and no banks have claimed they were deceived or defrauded. The attorneys also stated that expert witnesses and Trump Organization executives will be called to testify about valuations and accounting. Judge Arthur Engoron has allowed these witnesses, rejecting an effort by the attorney general’s office to block their testimony. With the defense case projected to be completed by December 15, 2023, the trial will continue as the state seeks to prove their six other claims.
