Trump is in New York for a civil, non-jury trial after a judge ruled he committed fraud
Former President Trump defended his business and his reputation on Monday morning ahead of a civil trial against him, which he characterized as a “disgrace.” The trial stems from a lawsuit brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James, which Trump labeled as “corrupt.” He asserted that his financial statements are “phenomenal” and criticized the presiding judge, Judge Arthur Engoron, as a “rogue” for what he perceived as interference in the 2024 presidential election.
The former president, who currently holds a significant lead in the 2024 Republican presidential primary field, appeared in court in Lower Manhattan on Monday for a non-jury trial. This came after a New York State Appeals Court rejected Trump’s request to postpone the civil trial.
On Monday, Trump’s civil trial is set to begin arising from Letitia James’ lawsuit
Last week, Judge Arthur Engoron issued a ruling stating that Trump and the Trump Organization had engaged in fraud while building Trump’s real estate empire. The ruling found that they had deceived banks, insurers, and others by inflating the value of assets and exaggerating Trump’s net worth on paperwork used for deals and financing.
The ruling followed a lawsuit by New York Attorney General Letitia James against Trump, his children, and the Trump Organization, in which it was alleged that Trump had significantly inflated his net worth and that his children had assisted him in doing so.
Before entering the courtroom, Trump spoke to reporters and criticized the trial as “a continuation of the single greatest witch hunt of all time.”
“We have a judge who is acting outside the boundaries of the law,” Trump asserted. “We also have an attorney general who has displayed biased behavior, and she is a problematic figure. She based her campaign on the promise of ‘getting Trump’ before having any substantial information about me. She used this platform during her failed gubernatorial run, and after her unsuccessful attempt, she returned with the intention of targeting me again. This is the situation we are facing.”
Trump expressed his belief that the trial is deceptive and lacking in integrity, stating, “It’s a scam. It’s a sham. I want to emphasize that my financial statements are exceptional.”
He also contended that no banks had suffered harm from his actions, asserting that they were not even clear about why they were involved in the case.
“They’ve testified to this fact,” Trump remarked. “They are bewildered by their involvement because they received prompt repayment, there were no defaults, and no issues arose. It was like having a flawless client.”
Trump contended that while Letitia James has concentrated on his businesses and family, there are ongoing issues of violence in the streets of New York. He argued, “There were no victims here. The banks were represented by some of the most prominent, largest, and most prestigious law firms in the state of New York, and indeed, in the entire country. The banks received full repayment, and there was never a default or any complications. Everything transpired perfectly.”