Donald Trump, the former president, is currently on the witness stand in a trial that has the potential to devastate his family’s business and real estate empire.
Wearing a dark suit and light blue shirt and tie, Trump entered the third-floor courtroom in lower Manhattan on Monday with his gaze directed towards the floor.
The trial stems from a lawsuit filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James, which alleges that Trump and his associates defrauded banks and insurers by inflating his net worth and assets by up to $2 billion per year over a decade.
The lawsuit seeks to recover $250 million and prevent the Trump family from conducting business in the state, posing a significant threat to the Trump Organization.
The trial entered its sixth week on November 6th, with testimonies from Trump’s adult sons, former associates, and state witnesses. Trump and his daughter Ivanka Trump will be the final witnesses presented by the attorney general.
For Trump, taking the stand marks a historic moment in his extensive legal battles as he pursues the Republican nomination for the 2024 presidential election.
Two weeks ago, Trump made an unexpected appearance on the stand during Michael Cohen’s testimony, despite being accused of violating a gag order. When he testifies this time, he will become the first former president in decades to testify as a defendant.
This is also Trump’s first time back in the courtroom since storming out of proceedings after his attorneys failed to secure an immediate verdict in his favor. He was subsequently fined for violating a trial gag order by making disparaging remarks about the judge’s chief clerk.
His testimony follows his sons Donald Jr and Eric Trump, who both denied involvement in the creation of their father’s allegedly fraudulent financial statements submitted to financial institutions.
The judge, who has previously been targeted by Trump, has already found him liable for fraud. The bench trial will determine the extent of his liability and the attorney general’s success on other claims, including falsifying business documents, insurance fraud, and conspiracy charges.
This is a developing story
