Donald Trump, in a statement on Sunday, announced he will not testify in his own defense at the New York civil fraud trial that threatens his real estate empire.
“I’ve testified to everything & there’s nothing more to say other than this is complete & utter electioneering (Biden campaign!) witch hunt that will do nothing but keep business out of New York, ” the former president — who is expected to be called forward by his lawyer on Monday — said in a versatile post on his social media platform Truth Social.
“I will not be testifying on Monday,” he added in the two-part post.
Trump, 77, is set to testify again as one of the final witnesses in his defense case against New York Attorney General Letitia James’ allegations that he inflated his worth by billions a year for better loan terms and insurance.
During heated testimony last month, after he was called to the fore by lawyers with the Attorney General’s office, Trump and his team clashed several times with Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron, who decides the non-jury case.
He also unexpectedly and briefly took the witness stand in October when Engoron wanted to question Trump about a possible violation of a limited oral order barring him and his lawyers from speaking to court personnel.
Donald Trump said he would not testify in his defense on Monday, as expected. Gabriella Bass
During that brief period, Trump denied that he was referring to Engoron’s chief law clerk Allison Greenfield when he said: “This judge is a very partisan judge with a very partisan person sitting next to him.”
But the lawyer said he didn’t buy Trump’s claim that he was actually referring to Michael Cohen — his former lawyer and “fixer” who testified at the time — and he fined the 45th president $10,000 on top of a previous $5,000 fine for violating the order his mouth.
Trump has attended eight of the 42-day trial so far, although he is not required to appear in court as he would in a criminal case.
His son Eric Trump was also expected to take the stand again in the defense case after being called as a witness by the Attorney General’s team, but also ended up not testifying as planned.
An expert witness called by Trump’s lawyers late last week — Eli Bartov, an accounting professor at New York University — is expected to wrap up testimony on Tuesday.
Trump recently attended a hearing Thursday to see the testimony of Bartov, who told the court “there is no evidence whatsoever of any accounting fraud” and claimed James’ case “has no merit.”
Trump testified last month when he was called to the witness stand by the Attorney General’s Office. Reuters
Trump hailed the testimony as a victory for his case, saying that “one of the greatest experts” and a “very respected man” said he should not be found responsible for fraud.
The 2024 Republican presidential front-runner has taken almost every opportunity in front of the media in court to attack Engoron, James and the trial alleging he is the victim of a political witch hunt.
In a bombshell decision shortly before the start of the trial, Engoron found the former commander-in-chief responsible for one of the major fraud claims by the Attorney General’s office.
Trump has been in court eight days so far during the 42-day trial. Steven Hirsch Trump is facing allegations by New York Attorney General Letitia James that he deliberately exaggerated his assets on financial documents for a decade to get better loan terms. Reuters
In that decision, he revoked the Trump Organization’s business license in the Empire state, but that has been put on hold until the trial ends.
The AG will present a brief rebuttal case following the conclusion of Bartov’s testimony.
Engoron is not expected to issue his ruling in the case — which threatens Trump’s real estate empire in the state — until late January.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
