Trump Testifies in NY Civil Trial

The anticipation is high as former President Donald Trump prepares to take the stand on Monday in a consequential New York civil case that has the potential to disrupt his real estate empire and deliver a significant financial blow just as he gears up for a potential White House comeback in the upcoming year.

Scheduled for testimony at 10:00 am (1500 GMT), Trump will find himself seated next to Judge Arthur Engoron, the overseeing authority in the case, whom he has previously derided as “unhinged” and a “Trump-hating radical left, Democrat operative.” The tension between Trump and Engoron has already manifested in the form of two fines—a $5,000 penalty and another of $10,000—levied against Trump for violating a partial gag order imposed after he criticized the judge’s clerk on social media.

Against the backdrop of a Manhattan courtroom adorned with a fading mural commemorating the 1683 adoption of a “Charter of Liberties,” Trump is slated to be sworn in and subjected to questioning, following in the footsteps of his two eldest sons, Don Jr. and Eric, who faced similar interrogation the previous week.

The New York Attorney General, Letitia James, has leveled accusations against the Trump Organization, alleging the inflation of asset values by billions of dollars to secure more favorable bank loans and insurance terms. Despite Trump’s public confrontations, his testimony is expected to align with a conservative defense strategy, echoing his sons’ claim that accountants bear the responsibility for validating the company’s financial statements.

This is not the first time Trump has testified in connection with the case; he has previously provided testimony behind closed doors. In excerpts from his initial deposition, he decried the proceedings as “the greatest witch hunt in the history of our country” and referred to the Democratic attorney general as an “out of control prosecutor.” In the second deposition, he labeled the entire case as “crazy,” asserting that the banks were adequately compensated.

While Trump and his sons face penalties of up to $250 million and potential removal from the management of the family company, they do not risk imprisonment. Even before the commencement of opening arguments, Engoron ruled that James’ office had presented “conclusive evidence” of Trump overstating his net worth on financial documents by amounts ranging from $812 million to $2.2 billion between 2014 and 2021. Consequently, the judge ordered the liquidation of companies managing assets such as the Trump Tower, 40 Wall Street skyscrapers, and the opulent Seven Springs private estate.

Despite a temporary hold on the liquidation pending appeal, the potential ramifications underscore the high stakes for the former president. Ivanka Trump, although not a codefendant, has also been summoned to testify, possibly as soon as Wednesday.

As Trump, a frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, sporadically appears in the courtroom, he continues to use these moments to portray himself as the victim of what he claims is a Democratic conspiracy to derail his White House aspirations. The ongoing civil fraud trial is just one of several legal battles Trump faces as he endeavors to reclaim the presidency.

In March, Trump, who was impeached twice during his time in the White House, is expected to appear in federal court in Washington for the start of his trial on charges related to his alleged conspiracy to overturn the results of the 2020 election, ultimately won by President Joe Biden. Despite the media circus surrounding his legal entanglements, Trump’s popularity in the polls remains largely unaffected.