Donald Trump is expected to be in New York this week for his $250 million civil fraud trial, even as his confidant-turned-critic Michael Cohen delayed his expected testimony in the case.
One of the former president’s lawyers, Christopher Kise, confirmed to a judge that Trump, 77, was still scheduled to appear in a lower Manhattan courtroom Tuesday, as the third week of his client’s trial began Monday morning. .
“We don’t have a medical excuse, he’ll be here tomorrow,” Kise said of Trump, in an apparent attack on Cohen, who said Friday that he had to postpone his testimony due to a medical condition.
The lawyer also criticized Cohen for attacking Trump on social media during his apparent medical episode.
“He remains active on social media,” Kise told Cohen’s judge. “I know you can do that from a hospital bed… but he remains active in the search for my client.”
As the trial began Monday, Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron noted that the week’s schedule was “a little up in the air” and acknowledged Trump’s early return to the courtroom, joking that for now, the lawyers would have to argue before an empty chair.
“Tomorrow won’t be empty,” Kise joked in response, according to an ABC News report.
Donald Trump still plans to appear in a Manhattan court on Tuesday even if Michael Cohen does not testify, his lawyer said in court.John Lamparski/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
The former president’s appearance was expected to coincide with testimony from Cohen, his former personal attorney and “fixer,” who was originally expected to take the stand Tuesday before saying he would be unable to appear in court due to a pre-fixer. . -existing medical condition.
“Unfortunately, I need to address a pre-existing medical condition that is preventing my ability to testify next week,” Cohen said on Friday X.
“I’m not going to retire. I’m not nervous about testifying. They’re not paying me. I have a medical problem that I need to attend to. It’s as simple as that,” then he added.
Cohen, Trump’s former personal lawyer and “fixer,” was expected to testify on Tuesday but said he had to delay it for medical reasons.REUTERS
Cohen, who is a key witness in New York Attorney General Letitia James’ case against Trump, told ABC that he looked forward to “testifying and correcting the record regarding the multiple misstatements and responses from previous witnesses.”
Later on Monday, Engoron clarified the schedule, saying, “The earliest Michael Cohen will testify, subject to a doctor’s note, is a week from now,” meaning October 23.
Trump appeared during the first three days of the trial two weeks ago, when protesters showed up in force and even blocked the street in front of the courthouse.
Trump attended the first three days of the civil fraud trial but has not appeared in court since.
The 2024 GOP front-runner took every opportunity in front of the press cameras to criticize the case, the attorney general, the judge and even the judge’s clerk, prompting Engoron to impose a partial gag order on Trump.
The former commander in chief and three of his children, Ivanka, Eric and Donald Trump Jr., are also on the attorney general’s witness list and could testify later in the trial, which is expected to last until December.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn