Donald Trump and Michael Cohen traded words on Tuesday as the former president again attended a civil fraud trial that threatens his business empire — and claimed his former personal lawyer did not “have the guts” to face him in court.
Cohen’s testimony in Attorney General Letitia James’ $250 million lawsuit against Trump, 77, was originally scheduled to coincide with the 45th president’s return to Manhattan Supreme Court for the third week of the trial — until Cohen said Friday he had to delay his decision. evidence due to a medical condition.
Asked by reporters during a break about his lack of a “fixer” once, Trump replied that Cohen “has no guts.”
In an email to The Post late Tuesday, Cohen responded that he was not afraid of his former boss.
“If I was afraid of Donald, I wouldn’t have written 2 NYT bestsellers, testified before Mueller’s team, seven congressional committees, 23 appearances before the Manhattan DA, and given the information to the NYAG on which this trial is based,” Cohen said.
“Can’t wait to see you in court soon!” he added.
Donald Trump and Michael Cohen sparred Tuesday over Cohen’s delayed testimony in the fraud case against Trump.Getty Images
Cohen is not expected to appear until Monday at the earliest.
Trump told reporters that he plans to return to the 60 Center Street courthouse again on Wednesday.
The former president, who previously attended the first three days of the trial two weeks ago, made a theatrical return to lower Manhattan court on Tuesday – only to be met with rather dry testimony, full of platitudes and evaluative language.
The first witness to take the stand was Trump Organization accountant Donna Kidder, whose testimony was followed by Doug Larson, executive vice president at real estate company Newmark.
Trump claimed the reason Cohen’s testimony was delayed was because he did not “have the courage” to confront the former president from the witness stand.REUTERS
Larson — who testified for much of the day — said in 2015 he appraised Trump’s 71-story commercial skyscraper at 40 Wall St. in the Financial District.
The AG’s office has alleged that the Trump Org overstated the high-profile, high-profile property’s value by $735.4 million in 2015 — even though a lender-ordered appraisal pegged its value at $540 million.
During the break, Trump took several opportunities to speak in front of press cameras as he walked in and out of the courtroom, again denouncing the case as a “rigged trial” and touching on a variety of topics, including Israel’s war on Hamas and the race for Speaker of the house.
He called President Biden’s planned visit to Israel “political” and said the conflict with Hamas was “a terrible thing.”
Trump’s “fixer” once responded that he has a medical condition and still plans to testify.AP
The 2024 GOP presidential front-runner also supported the bid of Rep. Jim Jordan has since failed to run for Speaker of the House, saying: “I think he would be a great speaker.”
Trump – who did not have to be present for the hearing – spent about five hours in court. He left about an hour or so before the proceedings ended for the day, with his attorneys set to wrap up their cross-examination of Larson Wednesday morning.
The former president was scheduled to be deposed in the Big Apple Tuesday in a separate lawsuit filed by two former FBI employees against the Justice Department over backlash they received for exchanging anti-Trump texts with each other.
Cohen is a key witness in the $250 million civil fraud trial against Trump. New York State Attorney General
Former FBI agent Peter Strzok claims he was wrongfully fired for texting FBI attorney Lisa Page who quit in 2018 months before Strzok’s firing.
James, the attorney general, did not miss an opportunity to see Trump in court, and when he arrived in the morning, he frowned at him as he strolled past, flanked by lawyers, while he sat in the first row of the gallery.
The property tycoon has repeatedly attacked James for conducting what he claims is a politically motivated witch hunt against him.
Trump said he will return to court again Wednesday.Steven Hirsch
As James left court Tuesday afternoon, he ripped Trump for allegedly distracting from his case but was unwavering in his conviction that “victory will be mine.”
“I’m sure he’ll come back again, and again — he’ll try to distract everyone from you, try to raise his voice and scream,” James said. “But at the end of the day, justice will be served — and I’m confident victory will be mine.”
The trial is expected to last until December.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
