New York (AP) — Donald Trump‘s legal team is pushing for an immediate end to the New York civil fraud trial against his real estate business. They argue that state lawyers have not proven that the former president intended to deceive banks, insurers, and others by inflating his financial wealth statements.
At the halfway point of the trial, Trump’s lawyers have requested a directed verdict, seeking to clear Trump, his company, and other defendants of any wrongdoing. They argue that there is no genuine victim, complainant, or injury established by the evidence, and that state lawyers have failed to meet any legal standard to prove the allegations of conspiracy, insurance fraud, and falsifying business records.
However, state lawyer Kevin Wallace responded that the defense’s arguments appeared to be more like closing arguments and that there was no basis for a directed verdict.
Trump’s lawyer, Christopher Kise, emphasized Trump’s extensive experience as a real estate developer and implored the judge to consider his testimony. Trump, on the stand, denied any wrongdoing and insisted that lenders were satisfied doing business with him. Kise urged the judge to place special weight on Trump’s testimony and argued that the state was trying to substitute its judgment for that of the banks and the real estate industry.
Another lawyer for Trump’s sons requested that the claims against them be dismissed, stating that they acted appropriately in trusting accountants and lawyers for the accuracy of the financial documents.
On the other hand, the state contends that Trump and his sons signed documents stating that they were responsible for the financial statements, which the judge has already ruled to be false and misleading.
This legal battle comes a day after Ivanka Trump testified as the state’s last witness. It is a civil trial, and the judge is expected to decide the outcome rather than a jury.
Engoron has previously ruled against Trump, and his pretrial fraud ruling included provisions that could strip the ex-president of overseeing properties such as Trump Tower.
The trial has seen more than six weeks of testimony from numerous witnesses, including Trump, his sons, and executives, as well as outside accountants and bank executives.
Trump’s lawyer emphasized that Deutsche Bank made adjustments to the asset values listed on Trump’s financial statements but still lent him hundreds of millions of dollars. They also attacked the credibility of former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, whose initial testimony was later contradicted.
The legal arguments will continue as the defense seeks an immediate directed verdict, while Trump’s team is scheduled to start calling witnesses on Monday, pending the judge’s decision.
