The New York court that judges the case of alleged civil fraud by Donald Trump, former president of the United States, closed the hearing this Monday (2), the first day of analysis of the case.
Donald Bender, the New York attorney general’s first witness and Trump’s longtime accountant, testified about financial documents from 2011.
See also — Trump arrives to give testimony in fraud trial
Mazars, the accounting firm where Bender worked, would not have issued accounting reports on the financial situation if the Trump Organization had stated that the numbers were inaccurate or untrue, Bender testified.
Allen Weisselberg, Trump’s longtime former chief financial officer, signed on the former president’s behalf that the 2011 documents were accurate, Bender added.
He is expected to continue testifying this Tuesday (3).
For most of this afternoon’s hearing, the former president of the United States remained looking at the documents on the monitor in front of him, looking at the witness across the courtroom and talking calmly with his lawyers.
Trump says the lawsuit is a “witch hunt”
Donald Trump also stated that he attended the trial over the alleged fraud he allegedly carried out, which began this Monday in New York, so that he could “personally witness this witch hunt”.
The businessman was not required to appear in court this Monday for the trial against him, his eldest children, his companies and Trump Organization executives. However, he chose to appear in Manhattan court.
“I’ve been going through a witch hunt for years, but now it’s really getting dirty between (special counsel) Jack Smith and all these people at the Department of Justice who help them,” he highlighted.
“This is a pure witch hunt for the purpose of interfering in the elections of the United States of America. It’s completely illegal,” she said.
The trial should last until December 22, according to judge Arthur Engoron.
Tramp also attacked Arthur Engoron, the judge overseeing the case, as he left the courtroom during the lunch break.
The businessman called Engoron a Democrat and an “agent”, saying the case against him was a “disgrace”. He also attacked New York Attorney General Letitia James for pursuing him instead of taking action against violent crimes.
Understand the judgment
Donald Trump, his eldest children and executives from the Trump Organizations are on trial for alleged tax fraud.
On September 26, Judge Arthur Engoron found Trump and other defendants responsible for “persistent and repeated” fraud and said they provided false accounting reports for about a decade.
The decision was a significant victory for New York Attorney General Letitia James, who filed the US$250 million lawsuit in September last year.
James highlighted that Trump and the other defendants committed repeated fraud by inflating assets in accounting reports to obtain better terms on loans and real estate insurance.
Judge Engoron now decides on six other charges:
- Falsification of business records;
- Conspiracy to falsify business records;
- Issuance of false accounting reports;
- Conspiracy to falsify accounting reports;
- Insurance fraud;
- Conspiracy to commit insurance fraud.
Trump inflated his net worth by up to US$3.6 billion (R$18.22 billion) in three separate years, between 2011 and 2021, according to the attorney general’s office.
The businessman’s lawyers denied the accusations, arguing that asset valuations are highly subjective and that they continue to evaluate what the decision means for the company’s future.
What is at stake
Trump and his companies could be forced to pay hefty sums in damages for the profits they allegedly made through their fraudulent business practices.
Engoron will consider how much the Trumps and their companies will have to pay.
The judge is expected to consider allegations of business records fraud and insurance fraud alleged in the suit in connection with luxury properties.
Attorney Letitia James’ lawsuit also asks the court to consider banning the Trumps from serving as directors of a New York company and barring the company from engaging in business transactions for five years.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
