Donald Trump plans to make his own closing arguments in his civil fraud trial in a Manhattan courtroom Thursday, according to reports.
The former president’s lawyers will deliver their closing statements as usual, but Trump has voiced his desire to add his own statement at the end of the case brought against him by New York Attorney General Letitia James, two people familiar with the plan told the Associated Press.
Judge Arthur Engoron approved the unusual request, which was presented to him by Trump’s attorney earlier this week, sources told the AP.
Despite the signature, Trump could still change his mind and let his lawyers do all the talking to settle the months-long trial.
When Trump was scheduled to testify a second time as a witness in December, he canceled the day before because he “had nothing more to say.”
Donald Trump plans to make his own closing arguments on Thursday, according to reports. POOL/AFP via Getty Images
The Post has sought comment from Trump’s legal team.
ABC News first reported Trump’s planned closing arguments.
The former president was accused by James of inflating his net worth by billions of dollars on financial statements to save money on business loans and insurance.
James initially sought $250 million against Trump, but state attorneys last Friday asked for the fine to increase to more than $370 million, according to court papers.
The civil fraud case was brought against him by New York Attorney General Letitia James. Robert Miller
The 45th president has consistently denied any wrongdoing, instead blasting James and the judge multiple times.
He erupted in court in November when he testified. The fury got so out of control that Engoran threatened to throw Trump off the witness stand.
Trump has also complained outside the courtroom and through his social media platform Truth Social.
The former President has denied all wrongdoing in the case. AP
He called the case a “fraud” and the proceedings “a pathetic excuse for a trail.”
The AG’s office has accused Trump, his businesses and some of his top officials of defrauding banks and insurers by overvaluing his assets, including Trump Tower in New York City and Mar-a-Lago in Florida where he now lives.
The bigger numbers led Trump to get better rates while insurers and lenders didn’t get the information they needed to properly reduce the amount, the Attorney General’s Office said.
Trump’s team has argued that he is keeping the deals he made and repaying the loans he received. He also provided financial statements that were clearly unaudited estimates that should have been reviewed by the recipient himself, his lawyer claimed.
Judge Arthur F. Engoron granted Trump’s unusual request to make his own closing argument. Reuters
The total net worth he gave was too low, not too high, his lawyer also said, insisting any overstatement was a minor mistake.
Judge Engoron said he expected to reach a decision by the end of this month.
With Postal wire
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
