2023-11-13 20:04:35
(New York) Donald Trump Jr. returned to the stand Monday as a “morality witness” for his father’s empire, speaking exuberantly regarding the former US president’s “incredible vision” as a real estate developer and his company’s portfolio of “large emblematic projects”, during a civil trial for fraud in New York, which now threatens the very future of this company.
Posted at 3:04 p.m.
Michael R. Sisak et Jennifer Peltz
Associated Press
The eldest son made another appearance at the trial, in Manhattan, this time for the defense. He first testified two weeks ago, in the final phase of the prosecution’s case, which also included testimony from his father as well as his siblings Eric and Ivanka.
When he became president in 2017, Donald Trump entrusted the day-to-day management of his business to Eric and Donald Trump Jr. He appointed Donald Jr. as trustee of a trust he created to hold his assets during his term in office.
New York Attorney General Letitia James is trying to demonstrate that Donald Trump, his company and his executives, including his two eldest sons, exaggerated his wealth by several billion dollars on financial statements given to banks, insurers and others. These documents were used to secure loans and enter into agreements. Ms. James is seeking more than $300 million for what she says are “ill-gotten gains” and a ban on the defendants doing business in New York.
Trump Jr.’s testimony Monday set the tone for a defense that is expected to last until mid-December. After a six-week presentation of the suit, which focused heavily on the financial statements, spreadsheets and loan agreements at the heart of the case, Donald Jr. wanted to humanize the Trump Organization in the spirit of the judge who will decide his fate.
Questioned by his own lawyer, Clifford Robert, Donald Jr. spent more than an hour narrating a slideshow entitled The Trump Story, complete with a timeline of the company’s evolution and photographs of golf courses, hotels and other major projects. He spoke with pride of his father’s early years as a Manhattan real estate developer, turning eyesores into thriving skyscrapers, and his “vision to do things differently.”
“He’s an artist with real estate: he sees things that others don’t see,” argued the eldest son, highlighting his father’s achievements while ignoring his failures and casino bankruptcies. “He has an incredible vision that others don’t have. »
When he was called to the stand by the prosecution on November 1 and 2, Donald Jr., vice-president of the Trump Organization, argued that he had never worked on the annual financial statements at the heart of this trial. He said he relies on the company’s longtime CFO and outside accountants to verify their accuracy.
Before trial, Judge Arthur Engoron ruled that the defendants committed fraud by inflating his net worth and the value of his assets in his financial statements. He imposed a sanction that might deprive Donald Trump of high-profile properties like Trump Tower in New York, although an appeals court has allowed the former president to keep control for now.
The Trumps have denied any wrongdoing. The trial continues following Judge Engoron last week denied the defense’s request to end it early through what is known as a “directed verdict.” The judge did not rule on the motion, but indicated the trial would continue as scheduled.
Donald Jr. is expected to testify once more on Tuesday, followed by a tax lawyer who was also called by the prosecution. Eric Trump is also expected to return to the witness stand, this time for the defense.
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