After more than five hours, interrupted by a few breaks, the tycoon concluded his testimony in the civil trial in New York in which he is accused of having inflated the assets of the family holding company together with two children. He spoke of “a political war,” a “shameful trial” conducted by a “biased and unbalanced” judge and a “racist and corrupt” prosecutor. “This is not a political rally,” the judge said. “I will not be intimidated,” commented the Attorney General
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After more than five hours, interrupted by a few breaks, Donald Trump concluded his testimony in the civil trial in New York, in which he is accused of having, together with two children, inflated the assets of the family holding company in order to obtain better conditions from banks and insurance. The tycoon spoke of “a political war,” “election interference,” a “shameful trial” from a “third world country or a banana republic,” conducted by a “biased and unbalanced” judge and a “racist” and corrupt prosecutor “in the pay of the Democrats and Soros. The first former US president in over a century to sit in the dock under oath in court turned his long-awaited interrogation into another show. But he faced a strict judge who defied him and even threatened to withdraw his testimony. Letitia James, Attorney General of New York, also assured as she left the court: “Today Donald Trump complained, he shouted insults… but I will not be intimidated, justice will prevail.”
The process
The last former president to sit in the dock was Theodore Roosevelt in a 1915 libel trial. Now here he is, the Republican front-runner in the race for the White House, with four tests on his mind but the wind in his sails from polls that give him a lead over Joe Biden in five of six swing states. The tycoon is no stranger to the courtroom, where he has testified in at least eight trials since 1986 in roles ranging from football team patron to casino builder to airline buyer. However, this is the first time that he is a former president, albeit in the role of head of the family holding company. His line of defense was to blame any errors on the accountants, as his sons Donald Jr. and Eric, who are also accused, have done in recent days, while Ivanka will be questioned on Wednesday, but only as a witness. However, Trump claimed that some assets were worth more than prosecutors’ estimates because he did not use his “brand value” thanks to which “I became president.” He also mentioned that the financial reports contained a disclaimer and that banks and insurance companies wouldn’t have lost a dollar anyway.
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The show
In any case, every question was an opportunity to attack the investigation, according to Attorney General Letitia James and Judge Arthur Engoron. The aim, the experts noted, was to provoke, to look for conflict, to create a precedent that could be challenged on appeal or an exchange that could be spread on social media to raise funds and mobilize the voter base. But the judge and prosecutors did not fall into the trap and remained quiet, limiting themselves to reining in the irrepressible Trump, whom he had already fined twice in the past for violating his ban not to criticize court staff . “Mr Trump, you can attack me, you can do whatever you want, but please just answer the questions, no speeches,” Engoron said several times to curb his digressions and excesses. The judge also raised his voice as he asked his lawyers to remain seated and “control” their client. “This is not a political rally, it is a courtroom,” he warned.
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Trump’s attacks
Trump’s attacks continued outside the classroom. This trial was a “fraud,” a case “that should never have been tried” and that “should be dismissed immediately,” he told reporters after his testimony. The former president then asserted the correctness of his actions and attacked the key witnesses in the trial, such as his former lawyer Michael Cohen, who had “no credibility.” “The evidence shows that he inflated the value of assets and unjustly enriched himself through fraud. The numbers don’t lie,” commented New York Attorney General Letitia James. The tycoon had already fueled the mood before the hearing with a number of attacks, on his social network Truth and by talking to reporters outside the court. He called out a political persecution and the usual “witch hunt” instigated by his rival Joe Biden.
the next steps
Meanwhile, Ivanka Trump will be heard on Wednesday, while Thursday will be devoted to the parties’ submissions before the trial concludes. The judge has already established the existence of fraud, all that remains is to quantify the sanction: the risk is a fine of up to $250 million, loss of control over part of the empire and compromise of the brand who the The tycoon built his economic and political fortune.
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“Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people” – “Israel’s anger after the cruel attacks is understandable, Israel has the right and duty to defend itself, and we will ensure that it has the necessary tools.” It is also true that Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people In a press conference in the White House with the Australian Prime Minister, Joe Biden reiterated the call for Israel to act “in accordance with the laws of war.”
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“Don’t let anger blind you” – In recent days, Biden told Israelis during a visit to Tel Aviv: “I warn you, while you feel this anger, do not let it consume you.” After 9/11, we were angry and while we sought justice and “We also made mistakes.”
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