Restricted gag order against Trump in fraud case
New York Attorney General Letitia James, in the indictment alleging that Trump, his three children and his company exaggerated their wealth by $3.6 billion, asked the judge to prohibit Trump and his children from establishing any more companies in New York and buy commercial real estate. estate for 5 years and demands that a fine of millions of dollars be imposed.
On the second day of the trial, which came on charges of defrauding many people and institutions in the real estate industry over the years, the judge scolded Trump and ordered him not to speak.
Judge Arthur Engoron, who presided over the case, scolded Trump for his post about court staff on his social media platform and ordered him to limit his discussion of it.
Engoron said: “Personal attacks against any member of my court staff are unacceptable, inappropriate and I will not tolerate them,” and warned that he would impose serious sanctions on those who oppose his decision.
ATTEND HEARINGS AND WILL TESTIMONY
In his post on the social media platform, Trump claimed that an Engoron staff member was the girlfriend of New York Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer and said: “How embarrassing. “This case must be dropped immediately,” he said.
On the second day of the trial, retired Trump accountant Donald Bender took the stand as the prosecution’s first witness and continued to testify.
Trump, who voluntarily came to court on the second day, responded to reporters’ question about whether he would testify in the case during the recess: “Yes, I will testify at a convenient time.”
Trump is among the people on both the prosecution and legal team’s lists asked to testify in the case.
As a result of the trial, which is expected to last until mid-December, Judge Engoron will decide issues such as how much to fine the Trump companies and whether their license to do business in New York state will be revoked.
Since the case is a civil fraud case, not criminal, and the defense did not request it, there is no jury in court. No one is expected to receive a prison sentence as a result of the trial.
The former US president, who had not previously attended many of the hearings in the cases brought against him on charges of “sexual harassment” and “tax fraud”, drew attention by announcing that he would attend the hearings in this case, although He was not obliged to testify.
In the case, Judge Arthur Engoron ruled that the former president and his company, the “Trump Organization,” defrauded banks, insurers and businessmen by overvaluing their assets and exaggerating their net worth in financial agreements and documents.
In his 35-page decision, Engoron claimed that Trump, his company and his executives obtained favorable loans and low insurance premiums by constantly lying about their annual financial situation. (AA)