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Donald Trump in court as civil trial

gets underway
Presiding Judge Arthur Engoron rejected former President Donald Trump’s request to delay a civil trial last week. James
sued Trump, his children and the Trump Organization, alleging that Trump "inflated his net worth by billions of dollars"
and said his children helped him to do so.

Covered by: Brooke Singman Lawrence Richard Ronn

, , Blitzer Danielle
, Wallace Gabriele Regalbuto and Anders
,

Hagstrom

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Breaking News 2 hour(s) ago Pinned

Donald Trump inside the courtroom with Judge Arthur

Engoron

Fast Facts
Trump invoked his Fifth Amendment
rights during the first
deposition in August 2022. However, he answered
questions during the 2nd deposition in April 2023.
Judge Arthur Engoron ruled last week that former President
Trump and his company deceived banks, insurers and
others by massively overvaluing his assets and
exaggerating his net worth on paperwork.
Trump's legal spokeswoman Alina Habba said in a recent Former President Donald Trump appeared in court before presiding Judge Arthur
statement that the judge's ruling is "fundamentally flawed at
Engoron on Monday.
every level" and called the Trump Organization "an
American success story." Trump bashed Engoron as a "rogue judge" before entering the court room. Trump
entered the building with his entourage of lawyers Monday morning just minutes after
A New York Appeals Court narrowed state Attorney General New York Attorney General Letitia James.
Letitia James’ civil lawsuit against the Trump family in June,
dismissing Ivanka Trump as a defendant and deciding that The non-jury trial, meaning Engoron
trial is a will decide the result himself. A New
the statute of limitations would prevent her from suing for York State Appeals Court rejected the 2024 GOP primary frontrunner's request to
alleged fraud. delay the civil trial.

Engoron last week ruled that Trump and the Trump Organization committed fraud
while building his real estate empire by deceiving banks, insurers and others by
overvaluing his assets and exaggerating his net worth on paperwork used in making
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know of the most important moments around the world. Engoron’s ruling comes after James sued Trump, his children and the Trump
Organization, alleging that Trump "inflated his net worth by billions of dollars" and
said his children helped him to do so.

By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy. Fox News' Brooke Singman contributed to this report.

Posted by Anders Hagstrom

13 min(s) ago

Trump lawyers accuse AG Letitia James of bias against

Trump

Trump attorney Alina Habba highlighted that James began investigating Trump soon after she gained office in
2019, and that she promised voters during her campaign that she would "get Trump" if elected.

Lawyers President Donald Trump argued that

for New York Attorney General Letitia
James harbors bias against the former president in court on Monday.

Trump attorney Alina Habba highlighted that James began investigating Trump soon
after she gained office in 2019, and that she promised voters during her campaign
that she would "get Trump" if elected.

She went on to state that the Trump Organization's valuations of its own property
were not fraudulent.

“The state of [Trump's] financial condition was undervalued," she stated.

Habba continued by saying that prosecutors would have Judge Arthur Engoron
believe that if you listed your house at once price but it sold for a lower one, then you
committed fraud.

Trump's defense team argued that Mar-a-Lago, Trump's Florida home, would sell for
"at least" $1. billion, orders of magnitude above Judge Engoron's valuation of $18
million.

Posted by Anders Hagstrom

Breaking News 1 hour(s) ago

Prosecutors, Trump's defense team make opening

statements in Manhattan

Donald Trump's defense team made their opening statement minutes after prosecutors on Monday.

Former President Donald trump's defense team made their opening statement before
Judge Arthur Engoron in Manhattan on Monday, minutes after prosecutors laid out
their own case.
Trump attorney Christopher Kise declared that Trump's financial statements
contained no false entries, and that prosecutors were relying on a the word of a
known liar, Michael Cohen, to establish wrongdoing. Kise reiterated statements from
Trump himself that there were "no victims" in the alleged fraud as well.
Meanwhile, prosecutors asserted that Trump and his associates knowlingly
submitted false financial statements, pointing to testimony from Cohan.
The prosecution played a clip of Cohen stating that Trump would regularly task him
and other lawyers with inflating his net worth, even if only to raise his placement on
the Forbes wealth list. Cohen went on to testify that he witnesses this behavior on a
regular basis from 2011 to 2015.

Posted by Anders Hagstrom

1 hour(s) ago

Trump gave deposition in NY in April over Letitia

James charges

Former President Donald Trump (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

The former president was deposed 2023. Trump invoked his in Manhattan in April
Fifth Amendment rights during his first deposition in August 2022. He has denied any
wrongdoing and has said the investigation is politically motivated and a "witch hunt."
New York State Attorney General Letitia James' investigation into Former President
Donald Trump began in 2019 when she took office.
Trump’s deposition in New York City in April came a week after his unprecedented
arraignment in a court in lower Manhattan. Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 felony
counts of falsifying business records in New York.

The charges, which are related to hush-money payments made during the 2016
presidential campaign, came out of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's years-
investigation.

Bragg alleged that Trump "repeatedly and fraudulently falsified New York business
records to conceal criminal conduct that hid damaging information from the voting
public during the 2016 presidential election."

Trump has slammed Bragg’s investigation and the indictment as "Political

Persecution and Election Interference at the highest level in history."

Posted by Brooke Singman

2 hour(s) ago

AG James made statements on Trump's charges last

year

NY AG Letitia James (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

On September 21, 2022, after AG Letitia James filed a lawsuit against Trump and
several of his family members, as well as associates and businesses, James said at
a news conference:
"Mr. Trump and the Trump Organization repeatedly and persistently manipulated the
value of assets to induce banks to lend money to the Trump Organization on more
favorable terms than would otherwise have been available to the company to pay
lower taxes, to satisfy continuing loan agreements, and to induce insurance
companies to provide insurance coverage for higher limits and at lower premiums."
James said that over the course of her office's years-long investigation, they
interviewed 65 witnesses and reviewed millions of documents. She said the evidence
showed that Trump submitted "more than 200 false and misleading asset
valuations."

The misrepresentations included stating that Trump had cash on hand that he did not
have and ignoring restrictions that would impact property values, James said.

"Claiming you have money

that you do not have does not amount to the art of the
deal, It's the art of the steal," James said, referencing the title of Trump's 1987 book.

Posted by Ronn Blitzer

3 hour(s) ago

AG James declares
Letitia 'justice will prevail' as she
enters Manhattan court
New York Attorney General Letitia James declared that "justice will rpevail" as she
entered the courthouse where former President Donald Trump is facing fraud
charges on Monday.
James arrived with her legal entourage Monday morning and briefly spoke in front of
the media. She accused Trump of fraudulently inflating the value of his businesses
and his net worth and stated that "no one is above the law."

Trump himself arrived to the courthouse soon after James. The case is one of four
indictments he is currently facing. Authorities have also leveled separate charges out
of Florida, Georgia and Washington, D.C.

He is the first U.S. president to face a federal criminal indictment.

Posted by Anders Hagstrom

Breaking News 3 hour(s) ago

Donald Trump arrives for civil fraud trial in Manhattan

Donald Trump speaks with reporters while entering a Manhattan court room.

Former President Donald Trump arrived to the Manhattan courthouse for the first day
of his trial on fraud charges on Monday.

Footage shows 2024 presidential candidate arriving with his Secret Service
the
entourage. Trump faces charges leveled by New York Attorney General Letitia James,
who began investigating him in 2019.
He blasted James as a "racist attorney general" during brief remarks in front of the
media. He went on to claim that the criminal case was an attack on his 2024
presidential campaign.
"It's an attempt to hurt me in an election," Trump said. "It's never happened before."

Trump's lawyers will argue before Judge Arther Engoron, who Trump labeled a "rogue
judge" on Monday. It is unclear how long the trial will last.

Posted by Anders Hagstrom

3 hour(s) ago

Judge Engoron ruled Trump defrauded banks, insurers

Donald Trump (AP Photo/José Luis Villegas, Pool, File)

Judge Arthur Engoron ruled that Former President Donald Trump in late September
and his company committed fraud while building his real estate empire after New
York Attorney General Letitia James accused the former president of overvaluing his
assets.

Engoron ruled that Trump deceived banks, insurers and others by overvaluing his
assets and exaggerating his net worth.

James Trump
"inflated his net worth by billions of dollars" and said his
alleged that
children helped him to do so.

A New York State Appeals Court rejected Trump’s request to delay the civil trial.

Engoron ordered that some of Trump’s business licenses be rescinded as

punishment, making it difficult or impossible for them to do business in New York.
The judge said he would continue to have an independent monitor oversee the Trump
Organization’s operations.

The ruling comes out of James' lawsuit in which she alleged that Trump "inflated his
net worth by billions of dollars" and said his children helped him to do so.

Posted by Brooke Singman

3 hour(s) ago

Trump dismissed a second lawsuit against James in

January 2023
Donald Trump withdrew a second lawsuit January against New York Attorney
in
General Letitia James related to her investigation into his and his family's business
dealings.

Trump sued James in December 2021 in an attempt to block her from investigating
him and his businesses.

Trump’s lawyers and James’ office agreed January 25, 2023 to a stipulation ending
an appeal that had sought to reverse a judge’s decision to dismiss the lawsuit.

Trump dismissed that lawsuit

voluntarily after a federal judge in Florida, Donald M.
Middlebrooks, accused him of a "pattern of abuse of the courts" for filing frivolous
lawsuits for political purposes, including what he said was a bogus lawsuit against
Trump’s 2016 rival Hillary Clinton and others.

Trump’s lawyer, Alina Habba, said the appeal in Manhattan federal court "was
voluntarily withdrawn for strategic purposes," according to The Associated Press.

"I am pleased Donald Trump has withdrawn both of his pending actions against
that
my office," James said in a statement on the same day. "As we have shown all along,
we have a legitimate legal case against him and his organization, and we cannot be
bullied or dissuaded from pursuing it."

Posted by Danielle Wallace

Breaking News 4 hour(s) ago

NY AG Letitia James releases statement on first day of

trial against Donald Trump

New York Attorney General Letitia James released a statement marking the first day of her trial agaisnt former
President Donald Trump.

New York Attorney General Letitia James released a statement marking the first day
of her trial agaisnt former President Donald Trump on Monday.

Trump will appear before Judge Arthur Engoron in Manhattan on Monday. He faces
charges of fraud relating to his business dealings.

“For years, Donald Trump falsely inflated his net worth to enrich himself and cheat
the system. We won the foundation of our case last week and proved that his
purported net worth has long been rooted in incredible fraud. In this country, there are
consequences for this type of persistent fraud, and we look forward to demonstrating
the full extent of his fraud and illegality during trial" James wrote in a statement.

“No matter how rich or powerful you are, there are not two sets of laws for people in
this country. The rule of law must apply equally to everyone, and it is my responsibility
to make sure that it does," she added.

James began investigating Trump's business practices in 2019 soon after she was
elected. Her charges represent one of four indictments the former president is facing,
stemming out of New York, Florida, Washington, D.C. and Georgia.
Posted by Anders Hagstrom

4 hour(s) ago

Appeals Court dismissed Ivanka Trump as a defendant

earlier in the case

Donald Trump's eldest daughter, Ivanka Trump (Ivanka Trump)

A NewYork Appeals Court narrowed Letitia James’ civil lawsuit against the Trump
family in late June. Ivanka Trump was dismissed as a defendant and decided that the
statute of limitations would prevent the eldest daughter of Former President Donald
Trump from suing for alleged fraud.
The Appellate Division in Manhattan decided that James can no longer sue for
alleged transactions that occurred before July 13, 2014 or Feb. 6, 2016.

"The Appellate Division decision today represents the first step towards ending a
case that should have never been filed," a Trump spokesperson told Fox News Digital
of the June 27, 2023 ruling. "The correct application of the law will now limit
appropriately the previously unlimited reach of the Attorney General."

The Trump spokesperson added: "Going forward, we remain confident that once all
the real facts are known, there will be no doubt President Trump has built an
extraordinarily successful business empire and has simple done nothing other than
generate tremendous profits for those financial institutions involved in the
transactions at issue in the litigation."
Posted by Brooke Singman

4 hour(s) ago

Donald Trump lashes out at Judge in NY case: over

'fraudulent' net worth claims
Former President Donald Trump lashed out against Judge Arthur Engoron on Social
Media late Sunday night, claiming the judge was intentionally underestimating
Trump's net worth.

"Judge Engoron’s Valuation Mar-a-Lago, the most spectacular property in Palm of

Beach, Florida, IS FRAUDULENT! He states a value of 18 Million Dollars, knowing full
well that it is worth, perhaps, 50 to 100 times that amount. Engoron is working
diligently to misrepresent me, and my net worth, which is substantially MORE than is
shown on my fully “disclaimed” Financial Statements. have not even included my I

most valuable asset BRAND!" Trump wrote on Truth Social. -

"He should resign from the “Bench” and be sanctioned by the Courts for his abuse of
power, and his intentional and criminal interference with the Presidential Election of
2024, of which am leading all candidates, both Republican & Democrat, by
I

significant margins. Likewise, Letitia James should resign for purposeful and criminal
Election Interference. She is fully aware that Mar-a-Lago, and other assets, are worth
much more than what she is claiming. Both of these Democrat Operatives are a
disgrace to New York, and to the United States of America!" Trump continued.
Posted by Anders Hagstrom

5 hour(s) ago

Trump invoked his Fifth Amendment rights at first

deposition
Trump said that he invoked his Fifth Amendment rights, per the
in August 2022
advice of his attorneys, during his deposition as part of James’ civil investigation,
calling it an "unfounded politically motivated Witch Hunt" and adding that he had "no
choice" due to the Biden administration and prosecutors across the nation having
"lost all moral and ethical bounds of decency."

In a statement on August 2022, Trump said: "What Letitia James has tried to do
10,
the last three years is a disgrace to the legal system, an affront to New York State
taxpayers, and a violation of the solemn rights and protections afforded by the United
States Constitution."

"Idid nothing wrong, which is why, after five years of looking, the Federal, State and
local governments, together with the Fake News Media, have found nothing," Trump
said. "We cannot permit a renegade and out-of-control prosecutor to use this
investigation as a means of advancing her political career. New York deserves better,
and this Country deserves better. This is a vindictive and self-serving fishing
expedition, the likes of which our Country has never seen before."

"The United States Constitution exists for this very purpose, and will utilize it to the I

fullest extent to defend myself against this malicious attack by this administration,
this Attorney General’s Office, and all other attacks on my family, my business, and
our Country," Trump said.

Posted by Brooke Singman

5 hour(s) ago

Trump’s request to delay civil trial was denied

An Appeals Court rejected Trump’s request to delay the non-jury civil trial, presided
over by Judge Arthur Engoron. The beginning of the trial is scheduled for Monday in
Manhattan.
The former president and 2024 GOP frontrunner is listed among dozens of possible
witnesses. The first deposition took place in August 2022, but Trump invoked his
Fifth Amendment rights. He was deposed again in April as part of the lawsuit and
answered questions during that deposition.
Trump has denied any wrongdoing and has said the investigation was politically
motivated and a "witch hunt." He has argued that his assets are worth far more than
what is listed on annual financial statements, and argued the statements have
disclaimers.

"I have been unfairly sued by the Trump Hating Democrat Attorney General of New
York State, Letitia James, over the false fact that inflated my Financial Statements
I in
order to borrow money from Banks, etc. The Judge in the case, Arthur F. Engoron,
refused to allow this case to go to the ‘Commercial Division,’ where it belongs,
because he is a Trump Hater beyond even A.G James who campaigned against me
spewing horrible inflammatory statements which are False & Defamatory," Trump
posted Tuesday on his Truth Social after Engoron's ruling. "I am not even allowed a
Jury!"

Trump went on to say the "facts of this case are simple."

Posted by Brooke Singman

5 hour(s) ago

Who is Trump's attorney Alina Habba?

Donald Trump's attorney, Alina Habba (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

AlinaHabba, former President Trump's attorney, is currently the Managing Partner of

Habba Madaio & Associates LLP based out of Bedminster, New Jersey.
Habba licensed to practice in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, the United States
is
District Court for the District of New Jersey, the United States District Court for the
District of Connecticut, the United States District Court for the Districts of the
Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, and the Supreme Court of the United
States, according to her website.

Trump's spokeswoman's website also reads, "Alina has experience in many areas of
litigation including, but not limited to, corporate litigation and formation, commercial
real estate (transactional and litigation), family law, the financial services industry and
construction-related matters."

She has previously called the indictments against Trump a "ploy" and "election
interference." Furthermore, during a July appearance on "Fox News Sunday" with
Shannon Bream, Habba said, "He is the most ethical American know" with regard I to
Former President Trump.
On "Sunday Morning Futures" with Maria Bartiromo,' Habba accused Democrats of
using indictments as distractions ahead of the next election saying, "They're afraid"
and "It's not gonna work."
Posted by Gabriele Regalbuto

5 hour(s) ago

'There were no victims!' Trump declared in NY trial

"There were no victims!" Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform in late
September after Judge Arthur Engoron rejected his request to delay the trial. "On the
front page of the financial statements there is a strong ‘disclaimer clause’ telling all
not to rely on these financial statements."

Trump said the disclaimer clause "tells anyone reviewing the data, including financial
institutions, to do their own research and analysis —it is a non-reliance clause, and
could not be more clear."

"Additionally to my being worth far more than is shown in the ‘fully disclaimed’
financial statements, again, not putting down a value for my biggest asset, brand, the
company has hundreds of millions of dollars in cash, and very little debt," Trump said.
"It is a great company that has been slandered and maligned by this politically
motivated Witch Hunt."
He added: "It is very unfair, and I call for help from the highest Courts in New York
State, or the Federal System, to intercede. THIS IS NOT AMERICA!"
Posted by Brooke Singman

6 hour(s) ago

Trump filed lawsuit against James in November 2022

New York Attorney General Letitia James (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Trump filed a Florida on November 2, 2022 against Letitia James, whom he

lawsuit in
called "crooked and highly partisan" and claims is abusing her position to "recklessly
injure" him, his family, and his business. He also claimed she was attributing to a "war
of intimidation and harassment."

"Today, filed I a lawsuit in Florida State Circuit Court against the corrupt Attorney
General of New York State, Letitia ‘Peekaboo’ James," Trump wrote in an email to his
supporters back in November 2022.
In the statement, Trump added: "Crooked and highly partisan James now thinks it is
the business of the state of New York to go after my revocable trust and pry into my
private estate plan, only to look for ways to recklessly injure me, my family, my
businesses, and my tens of millions of supporters."

The former president used similar language in the lawsuit, in which he alleged James
was pursuing "a relentless, pernicious, public, and unapologetic crusade" against him
"with the stated goal of destroying him personally, financially, and politically."

Posted by Lawrence Richard

6 hour(s) ago

Who is Chris Kise, Trump's defense attorney?

Attorney Chris Kise joined former President Donald Trump's legal team.

Former Florida Solicitor General Christopher Kise joined Former President Donald
Trump's legal team in August 2022.

"Chris has successfully argued four cases before the United States Supreme Court
and filed briefs in more than a dozen cases before the high court," his law firm's
biography says. "He has also handled and been involved in dozens of cases before
the Florida Supreme Court, and in state and federal appellate courts across the
country."

Kise's trial and appellate litigation practice "extends throughout the United States,
representing individuals, private and public corporations, and government entities,"
the bio continues.

"Well, I mean, the president is resolved, he's resilient, he's really ready to fight these
charges" Kise said on 'Jesse Watters Primetime' in early April.

Kise is representing Trump on multiple cases and spoke with Watters following
special counsel Jack Smith's indictment of Trump alleging improper storage of
classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago home, saying, "I think he's very disappointed
for our country."

Posted by Gabriele Regalbuto

6 hour(s) ago

Who is NY AG Letitia James?

Donald Trump and Letitia James, side-by-side photo (AP)

New York Attorney General Letitia James made history when she won in 2018 and
took office in January 2019 as
the first Black woman elected to statewide office, the
state’s first Black attorney general and the first woman elected to the post.
She successfully secured a second term in 2022 when she beat Republican Michael
Henry.

James began investigating Former President Donald Trump almost immediately

when she first took office in 2019. When Trump was serving as Commander in Chief,
James sued his administration dozens of times. She has previously regarded Trump
a "con man," ″carnival barker" and "fear monger."

In November 2022, Trump sued James and claimed she was abusing her position.

"Today, filed I a lawsuit in Florida State Circuit Court against the corrupt Attorney
General of New York State, Letitia ‘Peekaboo’ James," Trump wrote in an email to his
supporters.

In the statement, Trump added: "Crooked and highly partisan James now thinks it is
the business of the state of New York to go after my revocable trust and pry into my
private estate plan, only to look for ways to recklessly injure me, my family, my
businesses, and my tens of millions of supporters."

Posted by Gabriele Regalbuto

6 hour(s) ago

Eric Trump weighs in on his father's NY indictment

Eric Trump in New Jersey (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Eric Trump previously reacted to his father's New York City indictment in a March
interview with Sean Hannity where he exhausted that people like Alvin Bragg and
Letitia James campaign on the promise to 'take down a person'.

"You have Letitia James who's

out there, 'I'm gonna go after his family, I'm gonna sue
the hell out of the man,'" Eric said. "I mean, this is, these people are evil. They're
wicked."

Eric,who serves as the executive vice president of the Trump Organization, was
questioned by James’ office in October 2020. A judge forced him to testify after his
lawyers abruptly canceled a previously scheduled deposition, according to The
Associated Press.
James issued subpoenas in January 2022 forDonald Trump Jr. and Ivanka in
connection with the civil investigation into the family’s business practices.

James said at a news conference in September 2022 after she filed the lawsuit in
New York Supreme Court that Trump "inflated his net worth by billions of dollars" and
that his children, Donald Jr., Ivanka and Eric, helped him.

Ivanka was dismissed as a defendant in late June.

Posted by Gabriele Regalbuto

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