Donald Trump Jr. returned to the stand on Thursday to continue his testimony in the Trumps’ New York civil fraud trial. This comes one day after he defended his conduct while claiming little knowledge of the fraud the judge has already found them liable for.
Trump Jr. is the first of four Trumps who will testify under oath in the civil trial, where they are facing off against New York Attorney General Letitia James. Eric Trump is expected to begin testifying later on Thursday, followed by Donald Trump on Monday, and Ivanka Trump two days later.
The judge has already found the Trumps and their company liable for fraud, stating that they inflated Trump’s wealth and many properties in order to secure favorable deals. James’ office says the Trumps profited by at least $250 million through this scheme.
The trial is also addressing allegations of falsification of business records, conspiracy, and insurance fraud, and will determine what penalties the Trumps and their companies will face.
When asked what he expected from day two of his testimony, Trump Jr. replied with a thumbs-up and said, “I’ll tell you in an hour.”
On his first day of testimony, Trump Jr. provided his testimony for just under 90 minutes. He peppered his responses with occasional jokes, apologizing at one point for talking too fast.
As an executive vice president at the Trump Organization, Trump Jr. claimed to have an all-encompassing developmental role, but admitted to not recalling much about a key moment in the company’s history involving the chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg.
Trump Jr. placed the blame for the fraud on Weisselberg and the company’s outside accountants, stating that he signed off on a document prepared by Mazars with the trust that they were experts in the matter. He emphasized his reliance on their expertise and knowledge.
During his time at the Trump Organization, Trump Jr. was responsible for overseeing the company’s overseas branding and hotel deals, which were largely put on hold during his father’s presidency. He was also tasked with signing off on his father’s statements of financial condition, which are claimed to have fraudulently inflated property values and Donald Trump’s wealth.
All the defendants in the case have denied any wrongdoing, with the Trumps accusing Attorney General James of pursuing the case for political gain. The lawsuit is seeking $250 million in damages and penalties that would limit the Trumps’ ability to do business in New York.
Cassandra Gauthier contributed reporting.
