Topline
A New York judge asked attendees at the civil trial accusing former President Donald Trump and his business of fraud to keep quiet Wednesday, after the New York Attorney General’s office protested the ex-president audibly commenting on the proceedings as he attended the trial for a second day this week.
Babbling crook: Former President Donald Trump speaks to the media during a break in his civil fraud … [+]
Key Facts
The attorney general’s office accused Trump of commenting during the trial Wednesday as real estate appraiser Doug Larson testified, after an audible groan was heard in response to one of Larson’s comments.
“Can the defendant please stop commenting during the witness’ testimony?” Kevin Wallace, an attorney for the AG’s office asked the judge, adding that Trump’s “exhortations” were audible from the other side of the courtroom.
Judge Arthur Engoron asked everyone in the courtroom to remain quiet, “particularly if it’s meant to influence the testimony.”
Trump is attending the trial for the second day this week, after also sitting in the courtroom on Tuesday and for the first three days of the proceedings when the trial first began in early October.
Tangent
Trump’s apparent outburst during the trial comes after the ex-president has already caused Engoron to impose a gag order on parties in the case. The gag order, which bars anyone involved with the case from publicly speaking about the court’s staff, was imposed after Trump made a disparaging post on social media about Engoron’s clerk.
Key Background
New York Attorney General Letitia James has sued Trump, his business associates—including his sons—and the Trump Organization for alleged fraud, accusing the ex-president and his company of fraudulently misstating the value of their assets on financial statements in order to obtain more favorable business deals and boost Trump’s net worth. The alleged fraud includes misstating valuations for some of Trump’s most high-profile properties, including the value of Mar-A-Lago and the square footage of his Manhattan penthouse. Trump and his co-defendants have strongly denied the allegations. The trial, which began October 2, comes after Engoron has already ruled that Trump and his co-defendants are liable for fraud because they misstated the value of their assets, calling Trump’s legal defense that the valuations are subjective out of a “fantasy world, not the real world.” The trial is still moving forward based on other allegations, including insurance fraud and falsification of bank records, as well as determining whether the fraud was committed intentionally. The trial could carry heavy consequences for Trump and his business, including a $250 million fine, a prohibition on Trump and his children from running businesses in New York and restrictions on him making commercial real estate acquisitions for the next five years. Engoron has already ordered Trump’s business certificates to be canceled as punishment for the fraud, though that order has been put on hold.
What To Watch For
It’s unclear how many more days Trump could be present at the trial, though he is eventually expected to be called to testify. Rolling Stone notes Trump’s team has sought to turn the legal proceeding into a “media circus,” with the former president routinely giving press conferences to decry the case against him on the days when he’s appeared in court. The trial is scheduled to last until mid-December.
Further Reading
Trump Back In Court For New York Fraud Trial (Forbes)
Trump Keeps Attacking Judge In N.Y. Fraud Trial—Even After Gag Order (Forbes)
Trump Told CFO He Wanted Net Worth To ‘Go Up’ On Financial Statements, Exec Testifies At Trial (Forbes)
Here’s How Much Donald Trump Is Worth (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2023/10/18/judge-asks-trump-to-be-quiet-after-prosecutors-complain-about-him-commenting-on-fraud-trial/