
Trump to appear in New York court for trial on his business dealings
Global News
Trump isn't expected to testify for several weeks. His trip to court Monday will mark a remarkable departure from his past practice.
With control over some of his most prized real estate holdings in jeopardy, former President Donald Trump said he’ll make a rare, voluntary trip to court in New York on Monday for the start of a civil trial in a lawsuit that already has resulted in a judge ruling that he committed fraud in his business dealings.
“I’m going to Court tomorrow morning to fight for my name and reputation,” Trump wrote Sunday night on his Truth Social platform.
Trump lashed out in his post at New York Attorney General Letitia James, who is suing him, and Judge Arthur Engoron, who is presiding over the non-jury trial and made the fraud ruling last week.
“THIS WHOLE CASE IS SHAM!!!” Trump wrote. “See you in Court – Monday morning.”
The trial is the culmination of a yearslong investigation by James, who accused Trump and his company of habitually lying about his wealth in financial statements.
Last week, Engoron resolved the lawsuit’s top claim before the trial even began, ruling that Trump routinely deceived banks, insurers and others by exaggerating the value of assets on paperwork used in making deals and securing loans.
Before the trial early Monday, James reiterated her position that Trump for years “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,” James said in a statement, adding that she looked forward to “demonstrating the full extent of his fraud and illegality during trial.”