Donald Trump appeared in a Lower Manhattan courtroom Thursday morning to hear testimony from an accounting expert in the civil fraud trial that threatens the former president’s real estate empire.
Eli Bartov, an accounting professor at New York University, is “one of the country’s great experts,” Trump, 77, told reporters upon his arrival at the Supreme Court in Manhattan, adding that he hoped ” you’ll be able to hear it.” .”
The former president launched into a roughly three-minute tirade attacking the “very corrupt” trial, the judge and repeating his usual talking point that the case is a “witch hunt” before entering the courtroom around 10 a.m. .
Bartov, the last defense witness before Trump himself takes the stand on Monday, has refuted claims that the Republican committed fraud by inflating the value of his assets, arguing that such valuations are “subjective.”
Trump, who was accompanied in court by his son Eric, was scheduled to remain in the courthouse at 60 Center St. at least until lunchtime to watch as his defense attorneys questioned Bartov.
Notably absent Thursday was New York Attorney General Letitia James, whose office is prosecuting the case and who was present in court in recent days when Trump attended.
AP
The real estate mogul listened attentively to Bartov’s testimony, who opined that the attorney general’s case had “no merit,” dismissing any errors in Trump’s annual financial statements as normal.
“Accounting errors are inevitable,” he testified.
Bartov also downplayed the fact that the former president tripled the square footage of his Trump Tower penthouse in a 2011 statement as “not unusual.”
“Accounting fraud is an intentional misstatement and not an accidental error,” Bartov said.
Trump spoke to members of the media at the New York Supreme Court during the civil fraud trial. AFP via Getty Images
In a brief morning break, Trump said Bartov’s testimony was a victory for his case.
“This is a very respected man,” Trump said. “Do not know him. He is an expert and he did not find any accounting fraud, he did not find any accounting fraud.”
The 2024 GOP presidential front-runner has said he will return to court on Monday to close the defense’s case with his own testimony.
Trump, who has repeatedly claimed that Greenfield is a co-judge along with Engoron, is seeking to take the appeal to the state’s highest court. REUTERS
Trump has not attended the trial since Nov. 6, when he testified as the final witness in the prosecutor’s $250 million fraud case against him.
The 45th president has attended seven of the 40 days of the proceedings so far and is not required to be present in court as he would be in a criminal case.
He has taken nearly every opportunity in front of media cameras in court to attack the attorney general and Judge Arthur Engoron, who is deciding the bench trial.
Judge Arthur Engoron (right) sits on the bench with senior law clerk Allison Greenfield before the start of Trump’s trial. AP
But on Thursday and Monday, the real estate mogul will not be allowed to pursue Engoron’s top law clerk, Allison Greenfield, after a limited gag order last week, which barred Trump and his lawyers from talking about the judge’s staff , was reinstated by a judge. Court of Appeals.
Trump, who has repeatedly claimed that Greenfield is a co-judge along with Engoron, is seeking to take the appeal to the state’s highest court.
He has argued that the gag order is a violation of his right to freedom of expression, which he says is all the more important since he is campaigning.
The matter will likely not be resolved before he finishes testifying.
Trump has argued that the gag order is a violation of his right to free speech. Gabriela Bass
On Thursday, a five-judge appeals panel ruled to maintain a pause on the immediate cancellation of Trump’s business licenses, which Engoron had ordered on the eve of the trial in late September.
The order will be suspended until Engoron issues its final verdict in the trial, scheduled for early next year.
Trump outside the courtroom said he “really appreciates[s]” Thursday’s appeal decision, calling it “very strong” and “very powerful.”
Monday will be his second time testifying in the state’s $250 million fraud trial. AP
James filed a lawsuit last year against Trump, his two oldest children, his daughter Ivanka, the family real estate company and others, alleging that Trump overstated his net worth by billions a year in annual financial statements to gain an advantage. in loan and insurance applications.
Trump has denied the attorney general’s allegations and has repeatedly claimed he is the victim of a political witch hunt.
Ivanka, 42, was dismissed as a defendant in the case earlier this year when an appeals court ruled that the claims against her were outside the statute of limitations.
The four Trumps testified when the attorney general called them as witnesses, and Don Jr., 45, also testified a second time as part of the defense case.
The family members testified that they were not involved in Trump’s annual financial statements, in which the attorney general claims Trump lied about his assets from 2011 to 2021.
Instead, they have blamed accountants and lawyers for any errors on the forms.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn