Donald Trump plans to make his own closing argument in his civil fraud trial in a Manhattan courtroom on Thursday, according to reports.
The former president’s lawyers will present their closing as usual, but Trump expressed a desire to add his own statements as he concludes 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 conveyed to him by Trump’s lawyers earlier this week, sources told the AP.
Despite the approval, Trump could still change his mind and let his lawyers do all the talking to conclude the months-long trial.
When Trump was scheduled to testify for a second time as a witness in December, he canceled the day before because he had “nothing more to say.”
Donald Trump reportedly plans to deliver his own closing argument on Thursday. POOL/AFP via Getty Images
The Post has sought comment from Trump’s legal team.
ABC News was the first to report Trump’s closing argument plan.
James accuses the former president of inflating his net worth by billions of dollars in financial statements to save money on business loans and insurance.
James initially sought $250 million against Trump, but last Friday state attorneys requested an increase in the fine to more than $370 million, according to court documents.
The civil fraud case was brought against him by New York Attorney General Letitia James. Robert Miller
The 45th president has consistently denied wrongdoing and instead criticized James and the judge on countless occasions.
He erupted in court in November when he testified. The tirade got out of control and Engoran threatened to kick Trump off the witness stand.
Trump has also complained outside the courtroom and on his Truth Social social media platform.
The former president has denied any irregularity in the case. AP
He called the case a “hoax” and the process “a pathetic excuse for a trial.”
The attorney general’s office has accused Trump, his company and some of his top executives of defrauding banks and insurers by overvaluing their assets, including Trump Tower in New York City and Mar-a-Lago in Florida, where they now lives.
The higher numbers resulted in Trump getting more favorable rates, while insurers and lenders did not get the information they needed to properly calculate the numbers, the Attorney General’s Office maintains.
Trump’s team has argued that he kept the deals he made and repaid the loans he received. He also provided financial statements that were clearly unaudited estimates that the recipients should have reviewed for themselves, his lawyers claim.
Judge Arthur F. Engoron approved Trump’s unusual request to present his own closing argument. REUTERS
The net worth amounts he provided were too low, not too high, his lawyers also said, insisting that any exaggeration was a minor error.
Judge Engoron has said he hoped to reach a verdict by the end of the month.
With post cables
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Source: vtt.edu.vn