The Manhattan judge overseeing a $250 million civil case threatening Donald Trump’s New York real estate empire threatened to throw the former president out of court Monday if he didn’t stop making speeches from the witness stand.
Trump, 77, began his testimony Monday morning in Manhattan Supreme Court, and for the first hour repeatedly gave lengthy answers to what Judge Arthur Engoron called “yes or no questions.”
“We got another speech,” Engoron told Trump’s lawyers at one point.
“I beg you to control him if you can. If you can’t, I will,” the judge continued.
“I’ll forgive him and use every negative conclusion I can.”
The atmosphere in the Lower Manhattan courtroom was tense from the start of Trump’s testimony, with the 2024 Republican presidential candidate interrupting his opinion on the case more than once.
Things slowly began to escalate after Engoron early on said Kevin Wallace — a lawyer in the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James, who is bringing the case against Trump — was “very patient” despite some of Trump’s uncooperative responses.
When Wallace asked Trump if his 2014 “statement of financial condition” was “true and accurate,” Trump, wearing a dark blue suit and light blue tie, replied, “I hope so.”
Judge Arthur Engoron threatens to remove former President Donald Trump from the court over his answers to questions during testimony at his fraud trial in Manhattan November 6, 2023.REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg
The AG’s lawsuit alleges that from 2011 to 2021, Trump inflated his assets by billions a year on these statements of financial condition to gain an advantage in terms of loans and insurance.
Trump gave a variety of answers when grilled about the statement — including, “Well, let’s see,” and then, “I think so. I can’t answer that” — which the judge said was unresponsive.
Trump at one point made a mocking face and glared at the judge, saying Engoron “always ruled against me.”
Engoron accused Trump of giving a speech after being asked a “yes or no” question. Brendan McDermid/Pool Photo via AP
“You can attack me or do whatever you want, but just answer those questions,” the judge replied.
“I was chosen to move faster,” Engoron continued. “Please answer your question, no speech.”
The judge, who ruled on the case, at one point snapped at the former president’s lawyer to “watch over your client.”
“This is not a political rally,” the lawmaker added. “I have asked the witness several times to answer that question.”
The judge warned Trump’s lawyers that if they didn’t control their client, he would.
“We’ll be here all day” if Trump continues at this rate, the angry judge said.
Trump’s lawyer Alina Habba argued that her client should be able to give lengthy answers like Michael Cohen — Trump’s former personal lawyer and “fixer” — did when he testified against his former boss two weeks ago. Habba also said Wallace should be asking “better questions.”
But Engoron shouted at Habba to “sit down.”
Trump then interjected: “This is a very unfair trial, very unfair. And I hope people watch.”
Trump waves after returning to court after a break in his trial. Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images
When Wallace asked Trump about the $550 million valuation on a 2014 statement of his soaring Financial District property at 40 Wall St., the GOP presidential candidate said he believed it was worth more.
“The building, you just look at it, and you say it’s worth more than $550 million,” Trump said, suggesting prosecutors “pull a picture” of the building.
The Attorney General’s Office did not release a photo of the building.
The real estate tycoon also explained during a rant why he thought his 2014 financial filings actually undervalued his assets.
“That statement is far less valuable in dollar terms than it is in actual value,” Trump said, adding to Wallace: “It’s against your case.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
