Lawyers for former President Donald Trump concluded their presentation of witnesses on Tuesday, with testimony from a spirited accounting professor named Eli Bartov. Bartov strongly criticized the case brought against Trump by New York Attorney General Letitia James, calling it "absurd."
Bartov's testimony marked the end of the main arguments from both sides in the civil fraud trial. The state is expected to present two brief rebuttal witnesses before the trial enters a new phase. Closing arguments are scheduled to begin on January 11, with the judge's ruling expected a few weeks later.
The trial has been a lengthy and tense confrontation between Trump and James, with both parties frequently present in the courtroom as their lawyers clashed. From the start, they have taken turns criticizing each other to the gathered media outside.
The Unfolding of the Trump Fraud Trial
On October 2, Trump made an appearance at the opening statements, traveling downtown from Trump Tower on a warm 80-degree day. He denounced James and the case as "a disgrace." In response, James dismissed his comments as "baseless" and referred to his statements to the press as "a show."
During the course of the trial, he made his first appearance among the nine scheduled. The case accuses him, along with his two sons and their company, of allegedly defrauding banks and insurers to amass over $250 million by misrepresenting their wealth. All defendants maintain their innocence.
The following day, on October 3, Trump took to his social media platform to post derogatory comments about a clerk working for Judge Arthur Engoron, who presided over the case.
This post resulted in a gag order being issued against Trump, sparking a separate battle as he expressed his frustration with the restrictions imposed by the judge. Trump and his campaign violated the order twice, resulting in $15,000 in fines.
The prosecution presented its case first, calling over 20 witnesses including Trump himself, his children Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and Ivanka Trump. Other defendants who previously worked for the Trump Organization, namely Allen Weisselberg and Jeffrey McConney, also testified. Ivanka Trump was initially a defendant in the case, but her charges were dismissed by an appellate court due to the statute of limitations.
During Trump's appearances in court, he frequently engaged with members of the press who were confined to two designated areas outside the courtroom. He provided commentary on various topics, ranging from the case and the judge to Capitol Hill and his potential opponents in the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. On October 25, he specifically mentioned "a person who is very partisan sitting alongside" Judge Engoron.
The Judge's Fury: Trump Fined $10,000 for Violating Gag Order
In a recent court hearing, Judge Engoron expressed his anger and frustration towards former President Donald Trump for violating a gag order. The order was issued after a social media post involving the judge's clerk, who sits beside him during proceedings, sparked controversy.
During the hearing, Engoron called Trump to the stand and questioned him under oath. Trump tried to argue that he was referring to his former "fixer" Michael Cohen, who was seated a few feet away from the judge. However, Engoron saw through Trump's explanation and fined him $10,000.
This was not the first time Trump had been fined in this case. Previously, his campaign had been fined $5,000 for failing to remove a reproduction of the offending social media post. Engoron warned Trump that further violations would result in more severe consequences.
Later on, James' legal team called Trump to the stand on November 6. Trump clashed with Engoron and insulted James, who was present in the front row. Despite the judge's growing impatience, Trump's attorney encouraged him to allow Trump to answer questions in his own way.
"I believe it would be more effective to listen to what he has to say and absorb it," suggested Kise, causing laughter among the attorney general's lawyers. Engoron, however, did not find it amusing. His frustration seemed to reach its peak, and his microphone struggled to handle the sudden increase in volume as his voice grew louder.
"No, I am not here to listen to what he has to say," retorted Engoron, a line that would later be used in Trump campaign solicitations. "I am here to hear him answer questions. Sit down!"
On November 16, a temporary halt to the gag order against Trump was granted by a New York appellate judge, pending an appeal. Shortly after, Trump and his campaign staff resumed their attacks on the clerk, primarily through social media posts. Before the appeal was rejected and the gag order was reinstated on November 30, the clerk received a flood of threats, many of which were antisemitic, as stated by a court security officer in an affidavit.
Trump's team made another attempt to have the order lifted, but their efforts were unsuccessful. The case is still pending before an appeals court.
Although Trump was expected to testify on Monday, he ultimately did not show up, leaving an extensive security presence and the national media assembled in the blustery weather. Late on Sunday, Trump announced that he had changed his mind about taking the stand.
On Tuesday, he explained that it was because he was prohibited from criticizing the judge's clerk.
Testimony Denied Due to Gag Order
"I wanted to testify on Monday, despite the fact that I already testified successfully…." he wrote on his social media site, before adding, "the Judge, Arthur Engoron, put a GAG ORDER on me, even when I testify, totally taking away my constitutional right to defend myself. We are appealing, but how would you like to be a witness and not be allowed free snd [sic] honest speech."
