After 10 weeks, 40 witnesses and bursts of courtroom fireworks, testimony wrapped up Wednesday in former President Donald Trump’s civil business fraud trial. But a verdict is at least a month away. Closing arguments are set for Jan. 11, and Judge Arthur Engoron has said he hopes to decide the case by the end of that month. The verdict is up to him because New York Attorney General Letitia James brought the case under a state law that doesn’t allow for a jury.
Quick Read
- Trial Duration: The trial has lasted 10 weeks, featuring testimony from 40 witnesses and notable courtroom drama.
- Verdict Timeline: Testimony concluded on Wednesday, but the verdict is not expected until at least a month later. Closing arguments are scheduled for January 11, with a decision anticipated by the end of that month.
- Judge’s Role: The case, brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James, is being decided by Judge Arthur Engoron. This is because the lawsuit falls under a state law that does not permit a jury trial for this type of case.
- Judge Engoron’s Remarks: Judge Engoron expressed a mix of sentiments about the trial, noting its unique aspects.
- Lawsuit Accusations: The lawsuit accuses Donald Trump, his company, and key executives (including his sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump) of deceiving banks and insurers. It alleges that financial statements were inflated to overstate Trump’s wealth by billions.
- Specific Allegations: The suit claims that the value of various assets, such as Trump Tower penthouse, Mar-a-Lago club, various golf courses, hotels, and a Wall Street office building, were exaggerated in the financial statements.
- Defendants’ Stance: Trump and the other defendants deny any wrongdoing. Trump has been vocal about his stance both in court and on social media, labeling the lawsuit a “hit job.”
- Trump’s Social Media Comments: Trump has criticized the judge and the trial’s process, particularly the absence of a jury, in posts on his Truth Social platform.
- Prior Legal Ruling Against Trump: Before the trial, Engoron ruled that Trump had engaged in fraud, leading to an order for a receiver to take control of some of Trump’s properties. However, this order is currently on hold due to an appeal.
- Remaining Claims and Penalties Sought: The trial is focusing on allegations of conspiracy, insurance fraud, and falsifying business records. Attorney General James seeks penalties exceeding $300 million and aims to ban Trump from conducting business in New York.
The Associated Press has the story:
Trump’s fraud trial: Testimony ends but verdict isn’t expected until end of Jan.
Newslooks- NEW YORK (AP)
After 10 weeks, 40 witnesses and bursts of courtroom fireworks, testimony wrapped up Wednesday in former President Donald Trump’s civil business fraud trial. But a verdict is at least a month away.
Closing arguments are set for Jan. 11, and Judge Arthur Engoron has said he hopes to decide the case by the end of that month. The verdict is up to him because New York Attorney General Letitia James brought the case under a state law that doesn’t allow for a jury.
“In a strange way, I’m gonna miss this trial,” Engoron mused aloud Wednesday before the last hours of testimony, which were about accounting standards.
James’ lawsuit accuses the Republican presidential 2024 front-runner, his company and key executives — including sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump — of deceiving banks and insurers by giving them financial statements that padded the ex-president’s wealth by billions of dollars.
The suit claims the documents larded the value of such prominent and and personally significant holdings as his Trump Tower penthouse in New York and his Mar-a-Lago club and home in Florida, as well as golf courses, hotels, a Wall Street office building and more.
The defendants deny any wrongdoing, and Trump has made that vehemently clear on the witness stand, in the courthouse hallway, and and in frequent comments on his Truth Social platform.
“A total hit job,” he railed Wednesday in an all-caps post that reiterated his criticisms of the judge and complaints that there was “no jury, no victim.”
Trump took a significant legal hit even before the trial, when Engoron ruled that he engaged in fraud. The judge ordered that a receiver take control of some of the ex-president’s properties, but an appeals court has frozen that order for now.
The trial concerns remaining claims of conspiracy, insurance fraud and falsifying business records. James is seeking penalties of more than $300 million and wants Trump to be banned from doing business in New York.
