Emmanuel Ochayi
In a tense final day of his civil fraud trial, Donald Trump accused the New York judge, Justice Arthur Engoron, of having a personal agenda.
Trump, denying wrongdoing, clashed with the judge, who is now considering penalties after finding Trump’s company inflated his net worth. The trial concluded with Trump’s lawyer being told by the judge to control his client.
In a direct exchange in court, Trump told Engoron, “You have your own agenda. I understand that you can’t listen for more than one minute.” The trial, conducted without a jury, revolves around accusations that Trump inflated his net worth to secure favorable financing terms.
The closing arguments featured heated exchanges, with Kevin Wallace from the New York Attorney General’s office claiming, “Fraud was central to the operation of the Trump Organisation’s activities.”
The Attorney General, Letitia James, is seeking nearly $370 million and a lifetime ban on Trump from the state’s real estate industry.
Despite heightened security due to a reported bomb threat at the judge’s home, the trial proceeded, reflecting the contentious relationship between Trump and Engoron. The judge urged Trump’s lawyer to control his client during the proceedings.
Trump, currently the frontrunner for the Republican nomination, faces multiple legal challenges. The judge had found him liable for fraud in September, leading the trial to focus on determining the amount he should surrender. Trump’s legal team maintains the case is a “manufactured claim to pursue a political agenda.”
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The judge aims to issue a ruling by Jan. 31, shaping the outcome of a case that could impact Trump’s business empire and political aspirations.
