Former U.S. President Donald Trump (C) sits in the courtroom during his civil fraud trial at New York State Supreme Court on November 06, 2023 in New York City.
Jabin Botsford | Getty Images
Former President Donald Trump on Monday sounded off from the witness stand against the judge presiding over the $250 million civil fraud trial that threatens his family’s business empire.
Trump railed at length against Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron, claiming he undervalued Trump’s properties and called the ex-president a “fraud” — all while sitting directly next to the judge.
The rant came shortly after noon under questioning from a lawyer for New York Attorney General Letitia James, who accuses Trump, his two adult sons and his company of falsely inflating the values of his assets for financial perks.
Trump also laced into James during his rant, calling her a “political hack” and other insults.
It was Trump’s most dramatic display of anger from the witness stand, though not his first.
In his opening minutes on the witness stand Monday morning, Trump lashed out at the lawyer questioning him and his other Democratic antagonists, calling them “all haters.”
He also griped that Engoron “always rules against me,” prompting the judge to respond that that comment “isn’t true.”
At times, Engoron seemed frustrated by Trump’s testimony and his attorneys’ interruptions. He repeatedly warned Trump to answer questions directly and not give “speeches,” and warned the defense team that Trump’s outbursts and tangents could weaken his legal case.
“This is a very unfair trial,” Trump said at one point.
Trump’s anger was visible before he entered the courtroom, when he repeated his claim that the trial was a form of “election interference” conspiracy aimed at undermining his 2024 presidential campaign.
“It’s a very sad situation for our country,” Trump told reporters before heading inside the courtroom.
James seeks to permanently bar Trump, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump from running a…
Read the full article here
Leave a Reply