On his second day back in court on Tuesday, former president Donald Trump stepped up his criticism of New York Attorney General Letitia James.
James filed a civil fraud lawsuit against Trump and his company, alleging that they routinely overstated their client’s worth by as much as $3.6 billion, fooling banks, insurers, and other parties.
James wants to fine the Trumps $250 million and bar them from conducting business in New York for the rest of their lives.
Before Trump announced that he will return on Wednesday, a judge in the case granted a partial gag order on Tuesday.
In the meanwhile, Trump told the reporters during a break in the proceedings on Tuesday that he would testify in the case “at the appropriate time.”
He claimed that the judge had been provided “false and misleading information” regarding his net worth prior to his entry into the courtroom at the beginning of the day.
“Her numbers are fraudulent, she’s a fraud, her numbers are fraudulent and this case should be dismissed,” Trump said.
James was back there, behind him, when he entered the courtroom.
Despite the claims against his financial empire, the former president will receive much greater public attention in the courtroom than he would on the campaign road.
Trump did not address the court and was not required to show up. Nevertheless, he took advantage of the situation to make a media spectacle that put him back in the spotlight. And he continued to paint himself as the victim of a politicized justice system, a stance that has made him the unquestioned front-runner in the GOP primary for 2024.
In order to close agreements and secure large loans, Justice Arthur Engoron has already determined that Donald Trump and his friends, including his adult sons, vastly overestimated the former president’s wealth and real estate holdings.
The outcome of the trial will determine the former president’s punishment.
The defense has argued that property valuations are arbitrary, Trump’s reputation for exaggeration was well-known, and his bankers received full payment and even a profit for the loans they originated.
Trump, though, appears intent to use the trial as a campaign appearance and fundraising tool by criticizing the judge and the attorney general.
“He’s been given false information, misleading information and corrupt information by a very corrupt and incompetent attorney general, Letitia James,” Trump said. “This woman is grossly incompetent.”
According to Engoron, the trial could run well into December.
