In Donald Trump’s civil fraud trial in New York, his legal team called on Judge Arthur Engoron to immediately cease the proceedings.
Trump’s lawyers argued that the state had failed to provide evidence proving the central claims of the lawsuit filed by Attorney General Letitia James, who accuses Trump of inflating his wealth to deceive financial institutions.
Trump’s Defense Stance
Christopher Kise, one of Trump’s lawyers, called for a directed verdict, asserting that the state had not met any legal standards to prove allegations of conspiracy, insurance fraud, and falsifying business records. Kise emphasized that there was no identifiable victim, complainant, or injury established by the evidence presented.
Trump’s defense implored Judge Engoron to consider the former president’s decades of experience as a real estate developer, suggesting that James was attempting to substitute her judgment for that of the banks and someone deeply entrenched in the industry.
On Monday, Trump took the stand, vehemently denying any wrongdoing and portraying himself as a favored partner for lenders. Kise reinforced this narrative on Thursday, stating that given a choice between Donald Trump and Attorney General James in matters of real estate, he would opt for Trump.
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Trump’s Sons Defend Against Claims
Clifford Robert, representing Trump’s sons Eric and Donald Trump Jr., argued for the dismissal of claims against them. He contended that the state failed to prove the sons’ involvement in preparing Trump’s financial statements and insisted they acted appropriately by relying on accountants and lawyers.
State lawyer Kevin Wallace countered the defense’s arguments, stating there was no basis for a directed verdict and that Trump and his sons had signed documents taking responsibility for the accuracy of financial statements that the court had already ruled as false and misleading.
The trial has seen six weeks of testimony, with the state seeking the return of over $300 million in alleged ill-gotten gains and a ban on Trump and other defendants from conducting business in New York. Judge Engoron, who has previously ruled against Trump, is now tasked with deciding the trial’s outcome.
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