U.S.

Politics World Opinion Media Entertainment Sports Lifestyle Video AI More Login Watch TV

Donald Trump

Trump, Judge Engoron trade jabs during former

president's testimony in civil trial stemming from NYAG
lawsuit
New York Judge Engoron says he does not 'want to hear everything' Trump 'has to say'
By Brooke Singman , Maria Paronich Fox News

Published November 6, 2023 11:10am EST

Inside the 'testy' Trump courtroom

FOX News legal editor Kerri Kupec Urbahn details tense moments from Trump's testimony and breaks down the New York fraud case as the former
president returns to the stand

Former President Trump traded jabs with New York Judge Arthur Engoron as he testified
on the stand Monday morning during the non-jury civil trial stemming from New York
Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit against him and his businesses in the state.

Kevin Wallace, a lawyer in the New York Attorney General’s Office, began questioning the
president during his unprecedented time on the stand — specifically about his statements
of financial condition.

Trump said the statements were "not really documents the banks paid much attention to,"
and Wallace asked how he knew that. The former president said he has been dealing with
banks for "50 years and they look at the deals."

"We’ll explain it as this trial goes along — crazy trial," Trump said.

Former President Trump, left, and New York Judge Arthur Engoron. (Fox News)

TRUMP TAKES THE STAND IN CIVIL TRIAL STEMMING FROM NEW YORK ATTORNEY
GENERAL LETITIA JAMES LAWSUIT

Engoron, though, said Wallace was being "patient" but wanted the questioning to move
along faster.

"Please just answer the questions — no speeches," Engoron said.

Trump’s defense attorney Chris Kise interjected, saying the questions are open-ended and
required lengthy answers.

Wallace went on to show Trump his 2014 statement of financial condition. Wallace read a
portion that said Trump was responsible for preparing that statement.

"What they wanted was as much information as we could give them so that they could do
their statements," Trump said, adding that he was responsible for giving preparers the
necessary information.

TRUMP BLASTS MANHATTAN JUDGE, DEFENDS HIS 'VERY GOOD CHILDREN' AMID
TRUMP ORG CIVIL TRIAL FROM NYAG LAWSUIT

When asked what he was personally responsible for, Trump said, "It was so long ago, but
well beyond the statute of limitations for anyone else, but not me because I’m sure the
judge will rule against me."

Engoron fired back at Kise, asking if Trump’s comment was a "necessary part of the
narrative?"

Kise said the judge should allow the former president of the United States "a little latitude."

Engoron went on to ask Trump to "answer the question."

"You can attack me as much as you want, but please answer the question," Engoron said.

Former President Trump prepares to testify during his trial at New York State Supreme Court in New York, on Nov. 6, 2023.
(Photo by CURTIS MEANS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump testified that he authorized and gave preparers information that was necessary for
those statements.

"I’m probably more expert than anyone else, so someone would ask me and if I had
opinion I would give it," Trump said.

Wallace went on to ask the former president if the values on the statements were ever
"off."

Trump said on occasion they were either higher or lower. When asked for an example, the
former president said Mar-A-Lago was underestimated "but I didn’t do anything about it."

ERIC TRUMP TESTIFIES HE HAD 'NO INVOLVEMENT' IN TRUMP ORGANIZATION'S

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

"Values are far bigger than what’s on the statements…I thought 40 Wall St…Doral was
underestimated, considerably more valuable," he said of his properties.

Ina shot at Engoron, Trump said the judge said Mar-a-Lago is worth "$18 million, but it is
worth 50 to 100 times more than that."

"But the judge ruled against me," Trump said. "I don’t know how he got to those numbers."

Trump added, "The most valuable asset was the brand asset, but I didn’t put it on the
statement…If I wanted to build up a statement, like you said, would have added the brand I

value here."

Former President Trump prepares to testify during his trial at New York State Supreme Court in New York, on Nov. 6, 2023.
(Photo by JEFFERSON SIEGEL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Wallace went on to ask additional questions, but Trump continued speaking.

Engoron fired back at Kise, "Can you control your client? This is not a political rally; this is a
courtroom"

"I’ve asked the witness several times to answer the questions," he said. "Maybe you should
have a talk with him right now."

Kise said some questions "call for narratives."

Later, Engoron slammed Trump, saying, "In addition to not answering, you’re repetitive…Mr.
Kise, can you control your client?"

Kise argued that the questions are not "tight" questions, and that Trump is not a lawyer.

NEW YORK JUDGE FINES TRUMP $10K VIOLATING PARTIAL GAG ORDER IN CIVIL
FRAUD TRIAL

Meanwhile, Wallace began another line of questioning, and Engoron fired back at Kise
saying, "Mr. Kise, I beseech you to control him. If you can’t, I will."

Kise, defending the former president, said the judge should want to hear everything the
witness has to say.

"I don’t want to hear everything he has to say," Engoron said.

Trump's defense continued that it is "necessary, beneficial, and relevant to answer the
questions in this manner."

Trump attorney Alina Habba said Wallace "should try to ask better questions."

"I’m not here to hear what he has to say…he goes into speeches," Engoron said.

Habba fired back, telling the judge he should be present to listen to the former president's
testimony.

"This is a very, very unfair trial, and I hope the public is watching," Trump said.

The former president and 2024 Republican presidential frontrunner took the stand Monday
morning in the civil trial stemming from James’ lawsuit against him, his family and his
businesses. James alleged Trump defrauded banks and inflated the value of his assets.

Trump has denied any wrongdoing and has repeatedly said his assets were actually
undervalued. Trump has repeatedly said his financial statements had disclaimers,
requesting that the numbers be evaluated by the banks.

After a break in his testimony, Trump again took the stand, defending himself and his
businesses, and blasting the investigation, lawsuit and non-jury trial.

"We shouldn’t be having a case here because we have a disclaimer clause that every court
holds up except this judge," Trump said, referring to the disclaimers on all of his financial
statements and statements of financial condition.

"They're trying to hurt me — especially her," Trump said, referring to James. "For political
reasons."

Trump went on to call James a "political hack," saying she used her investigation and
lawsuit against him "to become governor, to become attorney general." The former
president was referring to James’ campaigns, in which she vowed to "get Trump."

"This is a political witch hunt, and she should be ashamed of herself," Trump said. "The
fraud is her."

James, a Democrat, sued Trump, his children and the Trump Organization last year,
alleging he and his company misled banks and others about the value of his assets.
James claimed the former president’s children — Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka and Eric — as
well as his associates and businesses, committed "numerous acts of fraud and
misrepresentation" on their financial statements.

Engoron, in September, ruled that Trump and the Trump Organization committed
fraud while building his real estate empire by deceiving banks, insurers and others by More from Politics
16 mins ago
overvaluing his assets and exaggerating his net worth on paperwork used in making deals New Jersey Sen.
and securing financing. Cory Booker
interrupted by
protesters
"He ruled against me without knowing anything about me," Trump said on the stand. "He demanding Gaza
cease-fire
called me a fraud, and he didn’t know anything about me."
32 mins ago
Trump went on to slam Engoron for undercutting the value of his Mar-a-Lago resort in 5 things to know
about Ohio's
Palm Beach, Florida, a property Engoron valued at $18 million. controversial
constitutional
amendment on
"$18 million, he said — and I'm a fraud for not valuing the property? How do you call a man abortion before
Election Day
a fraud when you have a property 50 to 100 times more?" Trump said. "You believed the
political hack back there, and that's unfortunate."
2 hours ago
Trump unloads on
A state attorney, Kevin Wallace, who was leading the questioning of Trump, asked if the judge, NYAG for
targeting him 'for
former president was "done." political reasons'
during
unprecedented
"Done," Trump said. testimony

2 hours ago
White House gates
Brooke Singman is a Fox News Digital politics reporter. You can reach her at
left defaced by
Brooke.Singman@Fox.com or @BrookeSingman on Twitter. graffiti from pro-
Palestinian activists

U.S. World Politics Entertainment Business Lifestyle

Crime U.N. Executive Celebrity News Personal Finance Food + Drink
Military Conflicts Senate Movies Economy Cars + Trucks
Education Terrorism House TV News Markets Travel + Outdoors
Terror Disasters Judiciary Music News Watchlist House + Home
Immigration Global Economy Foreign Policy Style News Lifestyle Fitness + Well-being
Economy Environment Polls Entertainment Video Real Estate Style + Beauty
Personal Freedoms Religion Elections Tech Family
Fox News Investigates Scandals Faith

Science Tech Health TV About Other

Archaeology Security Coronavirus Shows Contact Us Fox Business
Air & Space Innovation Healthy Living Personalities Careers Fox Weather
Planet Earth Drones Medical Research Watch Live Fox Around the World Fox Nation
Wild Nature Computers Mental Health Full Episodes Advertise With Us Women's World Cup 2023
Natural Science Video Games Cancer Show Clips Media Relations Fox News Shop
Dinosaurs Military Tech Heart Health News Clips Corporate Information Fox News Go
Children's Health Compliance Fox News Radio
Outkick
Newsletters
Podcasts
Apps & Products

New Terms of Use New Privacy Policy Your Privacy Choices Closed Captioning Policy Help Contact Us Accessibility Statement

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2023 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or
delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset . Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions . Legal Statement . Mutual Fund and ETF
data provided by Refinitiv Lipper .