Trump civil fraud trial begins in New York

[mystery-ak]

 Trump civil fraud trial begins in New York
by Ella Lee - 10/02/23 6:00 AM ET

NEW YORK — Former President Trump will face trial in New York starting Monday in a sweeping civil case alleging decades of fraud by him and his businesses.

A New York judge with whom Trump has repeatedly butted heads will preside over the trial without a jury, placing the fate of the former president’s business empire solely in his hands.

Justice Arthur Engoron found Trump liable for fraud last week, ruling that New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) proved the crux of her case.

The decision stripped some of Trump’s business licenses and raised the potential for him to lose control of some of his famed properties. Engoron also rejected Trump’s effort to throw out the case, allowing six remaining elements to proceed to trial.

“[James] has demonstrated that there remain, at the very least, disputed issues of fact as to whether defendants violated these statutes, intentionally and materially,” Engoron wrote in a 35-page ruling.

Following a multi-year investigation, James’ office sued Trump, the Trump Organization and his two adult sons — Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. — last September, claiming the former president’s company falsely inflated and deflated the value of its assets to receive lower taxes and better insurance coverage.

Former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg, former Trump Organization controller Jeffrey McConney and various business entities connected to Trump are also defendants in the case.

The attorney general’s office is asking for $250 million in financial penalties and a ban on Trump and his children from serving as officers or directors of New York companies.

more
https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/4233097-trump-civil-fraud-trial-begins-in-new-york/

[mystery-ak]

 Trump says he will be in court to ‘fight for my name and reputation’ in fraud trial
by Sarah Fortinsky - 10/02/23 8:09 AM ET

Former President Trump said Sunday night that he will make a voluntary appearance in court Monday morning in the civil case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) over alleged fraud in his business dealings.

In a series of posts on his Truth Social platform, Trump railed against James and the judge presiding over the case, New York Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron, who last week found Trump liable for fraud in the case.

“I’m going to Court tomorrow morning to fight for my name and reputation against a corrupt and racist Attorney General, Letitia James, who campaigned on ‘getting Trump,’ and a Trump Hating Judge who is unfair, unhinged, and vicious in his PURSUIT of me,” Trump wrote in a post.

“He values Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach, Florida, at 18 Million Dollars, when it is worth 50 to 100 times that amount. His valuations are FRAUDULENT in pursuit of Election Interference, and worse. THIS WHOLE CASE IS A SHAM!!! See you in Court – Monday morning,” he added.

more
https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/4233527-trump-says-he-will-be-in-court-to-fight-for-my-name-and-reputation-in-fraud-trial/

[mystery-ak]

NY AG Letitia James releases statement on first day of trial against Donald Trump

New York Attorney General Letitia James released a statement marking the first day of her trial agaisnt former President Donald Trump on Monday.

Trump will appear before Judge Arthur Engoron in Manhattan on Monday. He faces charges of fraud relating to his business dealings.

“For years, Donald Trump falsely inflated his net worth to enrich himself and cheat the system. We won the foundation of our case last week and proved that his purported net worth has long been rooted in incredible fraud. In this country, there are consequences for this type of persistent fraud, and we look forward to demonstrating the full extent of his fraud and illegality during trial" James wrote in a statement.

“No matter how rich or powerful you are, there are not two sets of laws for people in this country. The rule of law must apply equally to everyone, and it is my responsibility to make sure that it does," she added.

James began investigating Trump's business practices in 2019 soon after she was elected. Her charges represent one of four indictments the former president is facing, steming out of New York, Florida, Washington, D.C. and Georgia.

Posted by Anders Hagstrom

https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/donald-trump-new-york-ag-letitia-james-civil-trial

[mystery-ak]

https://twitter.com/HarrisonKrank/status/1708847174715388134

[mystery-ak]

https://twitter.com/keithboykin/status/1708851390259548403

[mystery-ak]

 Meet the NYC cabbie-turned-judge overseeing Trump’s ‘corporate death penalty’ civil fraud trial
By Shannon Thaler   
Published Oct. 2, 2023, 10:25 a.m. ET

Before Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron weighed in on the future of Donald Trump’s business empire, did a stint as a New York City cabbie to make ends meet.

While getting his undergraduate degree from Columbia University in the ’60s, Engoron drove a taxi cab — a job he later said was his third-favorite after being a law clerk and sitting on the bench.

“I loved the freedom, the instant cash, getting to meet people, learning how to drive like a maniac without being caught,” he said back in 2012 after hearing arguments from the taxi industry urging him to block then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s outer-borough street-hail plan.

The Democratic judge revealed himself in another decision as a free-speech absolutist who has been a member of the American Civil Liberties Union since 1994, and has participated in “huge, sometimes boisterous, Vietnam War protests,” according to Fortune.



He also played taught piano and drum lessons, and played the keyboard in a “moderately-successful” bar band, the outlet reported.

These days, Engoron is making upwards of $200,000 per year as a New York state Supreme Court justice, and living in the affluent Long Island village of Great Neck with his third wife and four children.

Last week, Engoron found Trump, 77, his family and his business, the Trump Organization, liable for fraud — the key claim in New York Attorney General Letitia James’ sprawling, $250 million lawsuit against the defendants.

more
https://nypost.com/2023/10/02/judge-overseeing-trumps-civil-fraud-trial-was-once-nyc-cabbie/

[mystery-ak]

https://twitter.com/bennyjohnson/status/1708857532578471959

[mystery-ak]

WATCH: 'Rogue' judge's ear-to-ear grin as Trump takes a seat in the courtroom

[mystery-ak]

https://twitter.com/CitizenFreePres/status/1708853836238971295

[Right_in_Virginia]

[mystery-ak]

Trump rages against Judge Arthur Engoron during Manhattan court recess

Former President Donald Trump raged against Judge Arthur Engoron during a lunch recess on the first day of his fraud trial in Manhattan on Monday.

Trump dismissed Engoron as a "Democrat" and an "operative" in a brief appearance in front of reporters. Trump stated that "this is a rigged court" in his heated statement.

"This rogue judge refuses to acknowledge that we won 80% of this case in the appelate division," Trump said, claiming Engoron has "contempt for his own court system."

"The judge is wrong. The judge is wrong in his ruling," Trump said. "He said Mar-a-Lago is worth 18 million. It's worth at least a billion, maybe $1.5 billion."

Posted by Anders Hagstrom

[mystery-ak]

Trump demands 'rogue judge' change verdict, 'Democrat operative' getting away with 'murder'

Lawyers for President Donald Trump argued that New York Attorney General Letitia James harbors bias against the former president in court on Monday.

Trump attorney Alina Habba highlighted that James began investigating Trump soon after she gained office in 2019, and that she promised voters during her campaign that she would "get Trump" if elected.

She went on to state that the Trump Organization's valuations of its own property were not fraudulent.

“The state of [Trump's] financial condition was undervalued," she stated.

Habba continued by saying that prosecutors would have Judge Arthur Engoron believe that if you listed your house at once price but it sold for a lower one, then you committed fraud.

Trump's defense team argued that Mar-a-Lago, Trump's Florida home, would sell for "at least" $1. billion, orders of magnitude above Judge Engoron's valuation of $18 million.

Trump himself spoke to reporters outside the courtroom shortly after Habba's statemnet. He argued that he has been "defrauded" by Engoron's low valuation.

"We're wasting time with this trial. It's a disgrace," Trump said. "The judge already made up his mind. He's a democrat. He's an operative."

Posted by Anders Hagstrom

[Right_in_Virginia]

Real estate insiders bewildered by judge’s $18M valuation of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago: ‘Would list at $300M’
NY Post, Sep 27, 2023

https://nypost.com/2023/09/27/donald-trumps-mar-a-lago-worth-at-least-300m-sources/

[Right_in_Virginia]

Trump rages against Judge Arthur Engoron during Manhattan court recess

Posted by Anders Hagstrom

This  is the appropriate reaction.

Charlie Kirk
@charliekirk11

Donald Trump is facing a civil trial in New York for "fraud." So, which of his victims is suing him? That's a trick question: There aren't any.

None of New York's banks or insurance companies, Trump's supposed "victims," are suing him. Trump's loans are repaid and his accounts are current. Because one judge says Trump "overvalued" his properties, that same judge is empowered to fine him hundreds of millions of dollars, break up the Trump Organization, and seize control of his properties, including Trump Tower, all to remedy a phantom crime with no victims.

When this happens in China or Russia, we call it what it is: Lawfare against an enemy of the regime.

Normal people do not yet realize how patently insane this is.

12:33 PM · Oct 2, 2023

[mystery-ak]

https://twitter.com/bennyjohnson/status/1708895992244830528

[Kamaji]

Trump is such a fuckwit.

The judge could give him the Mar-a-Lago valuation and Trump would still have violated Exec. Law §63(12) with the false valuations for the other properties that were included on his SFCs.

[libertybele]

A billion dollars??? $1.5 billion???      Does he really think any judge especially in liberal NY is going to side with him???

Trump rages against Judge Arthur Engoron during Manhattan court recess

Former President Donald Trump raged against Judge Arthur Engoron during a lunch recess on the first day of his fraud trial in Manhattan on Monday.

Trump dismissed Engoron as a "Democrat" and an "operative" in a brief appearance in front of reporters. Trump stated that "this is a rigged court" in his heated statement. He also took aim at Attorney General Letitia James, labelling her a "radical-left attorney general."

"This rogue judge refuses to acknowledge that we won 80% of this case in the appelate division," Trump said, claiming Engoron has "contempt for his own court system."

"The judge is wrong. The judge is wrong in his ruling," Trump said. "He said Mar-a-Lago is worth 18 million. It's worth at least a billion, maybe $1.5 billion."

Trump's lawyers had previously pointed to James' promises to voters that she would "get Trump" if elected.

https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/donald-trump-new-york-ag-letitia-james-civil-trial

[Right_in_Virginia]

https://twitter.com/huwhitememes/status/1708912783482397007

[libertybele]

https://twitter.com/huwhitememes/status/1708912783482397007

Wrong, right or indifferent, this is the judge's ruling.

This is a civil case, I am more concerned about the outcome of the 90+ felony charges against him.

[libertybele]

https://twitter.com/bennyjohnson/status/1708895992244830528

Trump is correct about all the crime in NY, murders, etc., but that isn't what this case is about.  Yes, time is being wasted on crappola like this, but like it or not, the case is against him, not against other crimes going on in NY. 

The leftists are going to continue to drag him through court enabling them to take up his time when he could be working on campaigning and ensuring election integrity and also at the same time draining his pockets.

Yes he is being wronged, but does anyone still believe that they are going to allow him to be the nominee???  Serious question.

[Kamaji]

Trump is correct about all the crime in NY, murders, etc., but that isn't what this case is about.  Yes, time is being wasted on crappola like this, but like it or not, the case is against him, not against other crimes going on in NY. 

The leftists are going to continue to drag him through court enabling them to take up his time when he could be working on campaigning and ensuring election integrity and also at the same time draining his pockets.

Yes he is being wronged, but does anyone still believe that they are going to allow him to be the nominee???  Serious question.

Why is Trump being wronged, particularly with the Exec. Law §63(12) issue?

Trump got caught speeding with reckless abandon.  It is no defense to a speeding ticket that there are plenty of other crimes that police officer could be working on.

[mystery-ak]

Trump praises 'very fair' statement from judge concerning statute of limitations: 'Outstanding'

Former President Donald Trump left the New York courtroom at the end of Monday's proceedings praising Judge  Arthur Engoron for what he called an "outstanding" last five minutes that, according to Trump, fell in his favor.

"That last five minutes was outstanding because the judge essentially conceded that they statute of limitations that we won at the court of appeals is in effect. Therefore, about 80% of the case is over," Trump told reporters after exiting the court.

He said it was "unfair" there wasn't a jury to decide the case, but continued praising the judge's statement he referenced.

"The way I interpret that, and the way the room seems to interpret that is that the statute of limitations is a very real thing in this country. And about 80% of this case would be over," he said.

It wasn't immediately clear what Engoron's statement entailed, but one of Trump's lawyers said the statement appeared to mean the judge was "agreeing that all the transactions enclosed prior to 2014 are now out of the case."

Trump went on to say he "did nothing wrong," and blasted that he was spending time at the courthouse rather than campaigning.
Posted by Brandon Gillespie

[mystery-ak]

 Trump knows he’s lost fraud case — but is using it to ‘amplify his political message,’ expert says
By Ronny Reyes   
Published Oct. 2, 2023, 5:47 p.m. ET

Former President Donald Trump has given up hopes of winning his $250 million civil fraud trial in New York and is instead focused on spinning the issue to secure his standing as the leading GOP presidential candidate, according to a prominent legal commentator.

John Yoo, a former Bush administration official, said that despite Trump’s defiance that he would beat the allegations of wrongfully inflating his wealth, the 77-year-old ex-commander-in-chief is already “throwing in the towel” as the trial began Monday morning.

“I think that Trump has already decided he’s going to lose on the law,” Yoo told Fox News, citing Justice Arthur Engoron’s bombshell ruling last week in favor of State Attorney General Letitia James’ main claim of fraud.

In a 35-page ruling, Engoron sided with James and revoked the former president’s New York business licenses, which could hamper his longtime company’s ability to operate in the Empire State.

“So what I think President Trump has done is turn this all into a political strategy,” Yoo continued.

more
https://nypost.com/2023/10/02/trump-knows-hes-lost-fraud-case-gop-legal-expert-john-yoo-says/

[sneakypete]

Trump will beat any of these bogus charges on appeal,but  the Dims and their RINO butt-buddies don't care about that because the whole purpose of this trial is to try to prevent him from running for President.

They can't beat him at the ballot box,so they are going to take a shot at beating him at the jury box.

We are now officially a Third Word Country  because First World Countries don't allow things like this to happen.

[libertybele]

Trump will beat any of these bogus charges on appeal,but  the Dims and their RINO butt-buddies don't care about that because the whole purpose of this trial is to try to prevent him from running for President.

They can't beat him at the ballot box,so they are going to take a shot at beating him at the jury box.

We are now officially a Third Word Country  because First World Countries don't allow things like this to happen.

Yes, that's the obvious; they are trying to prevent him for running or President.  91 felony counts against him @sneakypete and you don't think that they're going to get just one to stick to prevent him from running??

BTW they did beat Trump at the ballot box by stealing the election. The 'jury box' is to give reason why they won't put Trump on the ballot.