Donald Trump declared, “I did nothing wrong” as he was unexpectedly allowed to speak in a New York court Thursday at the close of a civil fraud trial that threatens his business empire.
The dramatic moment came after Trump’s three lawyers each delivered their final rulings to Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron, arguing that the claims and proposed $370 million fine against the former president were “fabricated.”
“I didn’t do anything wrong, they should pay me for what we had to go through,” Trump, 77, said of New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office, which prosecuted the case and is seeking a hefty penalty.
Engoron — who said he expects to issue a ruling on the non-jury case later this month — ruled Wednesday that Trump could not participate in closing arguments because he did not agree to stand on “relevant material facts.”
Just before the court’s lunch break Thursday, Trump attorney Christopher Kise asked Engoron if his client could speak.
“If I let you speak, do you promise to stick to the law and the facts?” Engoron asked Trump, who was sitting at the defense table, flanked by his lawyers.
The real estate tycoon — wearing a blue suit, white shirt and red tie — did not answer the question and instead launched into a rambling speech over Engoron’s objections that “this is not the way it should be done.”
“This case is beyond the facts,” Trump said as he began addressing the judge from his seat. “The fact is that the financial statements are perfect, the banks are happy as can be.”
Donald Trump told the judge at the close of his fraud trial, “I didn’t do anything wrong, they should pay me for what we had to go through.” Gabriella Bass
“This is not consumer fraud. What happened here, sir, is a fraud to me,” he said.
“We have a situation where I’m an innocent man,” Trump said. “I have been wronged.”
Trump, the GOP front-runner for the 2024 nomination, then began making political attacks, including calling the case a “political witch hunt” and muttering about the judge, “I know you have your own agenda.”
“Mr. Kise, please control your customers,” replied Engoron who was upset.
Engoron – who was timing Trump to make sure he only spoke for five minutes – at one point picked up his phone, said “One minute,” and signaled that Trump needed to finish.
Judge Arthur Engoron said Trump could speak for five minutes. Getty Images
After five minutes, Engoron cut Trump off, saying, “Thank you, Mr. Trump, this should have been done differently. You will have more time.”
Trump left the building during his lunch break and later held a news conference at 40 Wall Street, the so-called jewel of the Trump Organization and one of the Manhattan properties threatened by James’ lawsuit.
Both James and Eric Trump, the former president’s son, sat in the front row of the courtroom during Kise’s roughly two-hour closing speech, in which he claimed that the Attorney General was trying to put Trump out of business — despite the fact that he had been “part of real estate fabric” in New York City and the country for many years.
He claimed the case was “manufactured” by James to “pursue a political agenda.”
James’ office alleged that Trump lied on annual financial statements from 2011 to 2021, exaggerating his wealth by billions for better loan and insurance terms.
New York Attorney General Letitia James looks on from the front row of the courtroom during Trump’s attorney’s closing statements. AP
But Kise reiterated his argument that there were no victims in the case, saying that the bank and Trump both benefited from his loans.
“They opened the door and rolled out the red carpet” for Trump, Kise told Engoron of the bank. “He’s a whale customer.”
He also slammed the Attorney General’s key witness, Michael Cohen, as a “serial liar” who “hates Trump” and asked the judge not to put stock in the testimony of convicted criminals.
Trump’s lawyer Alina Habba then spoke briefly, speaking theatrically in the gallery of the 60 Center St. courtroom. while sarcastically saying, “Some fraud! What a liar.”
Habba then said Trump was “doing his best” and never intended to “hurt” the Empire State.
Cliff Robert, a lawyer for Trump’s eldest sons Eric and Don Jr., hyperbolically said the AG was seeking a professional “death penalty” against his client.
Trump spoke to the judge as he sat at the defense table. Gabriella Bass
Cohen — Trump’s former lawyer and “fixer” — told The Post by email Thursday that Trump was playing the “blame game” and predicted the former commander-in-chief would lose the case.
In the afternoon, lawyers with the Attorney General’s office closed out a marathon day of arguments about another two and a half hours into a seemingly less crowded courtroom, as Trump held a competing press conference from a similar skyscraper about a mile away. away
“If you look at it over time, it becomes clear that fraud is integral to the Trump Organization’s business operations,” AG attorney Kevin Wallace charged in a more tame statement.
Trump has shown “no remorse,” Wallace said.
“There was nothing wrong” and it was all a “conspiracy to him,” the lawyer added.
Trump has been accused of exaggerating his assets for a decade to get better loan terms. POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Wallace calmly detailed the evidence the Attorney General’s office believed proved their case that Trump lied about financial filings to get the comfortable interest rates that gave him a lifeline when he was short on cash.
When the hearing finally concluded at about 5 p.m., Engoron said he hoped to deliver his verdict by January 31, but warned it was “not a guarantee.”
Outside court, James told reporters that Trump’s repeated personal attacks on him since the trial began in October, “really don’t bother me.”
“The fact is that this trial has shown – and we have produced evidence – of the scope, the scale, the depth, the breadth of the illegality, the fraud, which personally enriched Donald Trump and his family.”
On Wednesday, Engoron told Kise that Trump would not be allowed to make a closing argument because his team refused to comply with the judge’s requirement that Trump follow the same rules as a lawyer, only by complying with the evidence presented at trial.
Before the trial began Thursday morning, Engoron received a bomb threat at his Great Neck home, prompting speculation about whether the trial would begin on time. But closing arguments began shortly after 10 a.m. as planned with heightened security at the Lower Manhattan courthouse.
Trump’s lawyers have asked for the shutdown to be delayed since Trump’s mother-in-law, Amalija Knavs, died on Tuesday.
Engoron denied the request, citing disruption to court staff, but the judge still offered his condolences and apology.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
