Former President Donald Trump returned to his civil fraud trial in New York City, where he defended himself against allegations of financial fraud. The trial, brought by New York State Attorney General Letitia James, accuses Trump of inflating asset values in his financial statements. Trump denies any wrongdoing and claims the case is a partisan abuse of power.
During the trial, an accounting expert, Eli Bartov, testified that there was no evidence of accounting fraud or concealment in the case. Trump praised the testimony of Bartov, who disputed the claims made by the New York State Attorney General. Trump is set to testify in the case for a second time on Monday.
The trial is examining allegations that Trump and his company misled banks and insurers by inflating the value of his assets. Testimony is expected to wrap up before Christmas, with closing arguments scheduled for January. Trump has attended several days of trial testimony, including when his former fixer, Michael Cohen, testified against him. He is expected to be called as a defense witness and the trial is expected to conclude in early 2024.
In addition to the civil fraud trial, Trump is also facing four criminal cases, with trials scheduled for next year. Despite the legal challenges, Trump, the leading candidate for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, has used his legal situation as a rallying cry in his campaign, portraying himself as the victim of an unjust political hit job.
