On Sunday, December 10th, former President Donald Trump announced that he would not testify in his ongoing civil fraud trial in New York. This decision marks a significant reversal, as he was expected to be his defense team’s final witness. The trial, which has spanned 11 weeks, is nearing its conclusion, with a decision anticipated early next year.
Trump’s decision not to testify was communicated through a post on his social media platform, Truth Social. In his statement, he expressed dissatisfaction with the trial’s proceedings and criticized the judge overseeing the case, Arthur Engoron, for what he perceived as bias. Trump’s legal team, led by attorney Christopher Kise, echoed these sentiments, stating that there was no valid reason for Trump to return to the witness stand.
New York Attorney General, Letitia James, has accused Trump, his two sons, and their company of a decade-long fraud scheme designed to benefit themselves by hundreds of millions of dollars. This was allegedly achieved by fraudulently inflating the value of their properties to obtain unusually favorable terms on loans and insurance. While the case does not involve criminal charges, it directly challenges Trump’s business practices and brand.
Trump’s previous testimony in the trial was contentious, with Judge Engoron imploring him to answer questions directly and leave politics outside the courtroom. Despite this, Trump did acknowledge some involvement in the financial statements and that banks relied on them while also stating that he relied on his accountants.
The trial’s outcome will determine how much money Trump will pay and whether he and his adult sons can conduct business in the state. The judge has found that Trump’s financial statements were fraudulent for a decade.
The trial is set to resume with the final witnesses, including Eli Bartov, an accounting expert, and rebuttal witnesses from the attorney general’s office. Following their testimonies, both sides will have until January 5th to file briefs with Judge Engoron, with closing arguments scheduled for January 11th.
