re: Judge Threatens To Remove Donald Trump From Witness Stand In New York Civil Fraud Trial

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The New York attorney general’s office has called the former president to the witness stand.

“The people call Donald J. Trump,” a state lawyer said.

Trump, wearing a blue suit and tie, stood at the defense table and took his time walking to the witness stand. He raised his right hand and swore to tell the truth.

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Trump ticked off his political grievances on the witness stand in New York, while detailing how he left his business when his presidency began because he “thought it might be a conflict of interest.”

He appointed his son, Donald Trump Jr., whom he called “smart” and “a very honorable guy,” a trustee.

When he left the White House after losing the 2020 election, he appointed himself a trustee of the business, expecting to be “back in the business world for a little while.”

He complained that around the same time, “Democrat” prosecutors and state attorney generals — “all Trump haters,” he said — began to “come after” him.

“Weaponization, they call it,” Trump said.

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Trump attempted to play down the importance of his statements of financial condition when working with banks.

The documents are at the heart of the New York attorney general’s case against him and his business, which asserts that Trump and his co-defendants falsely inflated and deflated the value of the Trump Organization’s assets to receive lower taxes and better insurance coverage.

Trump said the statements of financial condition were “not really documents that the banks paid much attention to.”

“I’ve been dealing with banks for 50 years and probably know banks as well as anybody,” Trump said. “I know what they look at; they look at the deal.”

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After Trump aired his frustration over “Democrat” prosecutors and attorneys general “coming after” him, Judge Arthur Engoron asked him to keep the political answers to a minimum.

“I’d like to move things along a little faster; please no speeches,” Engoron said, drawing an objection from Trump attorney Chris Kise.

A few questions later, Trump took aim at the judge. He claimed that the allegations against him are “well beyond the statute of limitations.”

“I’m sure the judge will rule against me because he always rules against me,” Trump said.

“You can attack me whenever you want but answer the questions,” Engoron later said in response.

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Engoron has repeatedly objected to Trump’s responses to the New York attorney general’s office’s questions, which have been winding and tinged with political speech.

“Mr. Kise, can you control your client? This is not a political rally,” Engoron said, suggesting Kise should “have a talk” with Trump.

Kise replied that Trump’s answers have been responsive because state lawyer Kevin Wallace’s questions have been “open,” purporting that it’s Engoron’s job to keep the court in order, not his.

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New York state lawyer Kevin Wallace asked Trump whether he ever recalled one of his statements of financial condition “being off.”

“Yes, both high and low,” Trump testified.

The former president said his Mar-a-Lago estate was underestimated but he “didn’t do anything about it,” asserting that it was worth 50 to 100 times more than the New York attorney general’s office estimated.

“I don’t know how you got those numbers,” Trump said.

Trump added that his “brand value” alone would have increased the value of his many properties, if he had used it to value them.

“I became president because of my brand,” Trump said.

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Trump’s responses to questions about his 40 Wall Street property drew ire from the judge.

“$550M is a very low number,” Trump said of the property. “All you have to do is look at a picture of the building and say that’s worth a lot more money. You wanna put up a picture?”

Engoron interjected again, telling Trump attorney Chris Kise to take control of his client.

“I would think, respectfully — of all witnesses — your honor would want to hear everything this witness has to say,” Kise said.

“No, I do not want to hear everything this witness has to say,” Engoron angrily replied.

Trump shook his head and smiled.

“I am not here and these people are not here to hear what he has to say; we are here to hear him answer questions,” Engoron continued. “It’s very simple. Is this an accurate number? It’s very simple.”

Trump then chimed in, unprompted.

“This is a very, very unfair trial. And I hope the public is watching,” Trump said.

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At state lawyer Kevin Wallace’s request, Judge Arthur Engoron called a 15-minute break so that Trump attorney Chris Kise could speak with the former president about streamlining his testimony.

The break follows several outbursts from Engoron, who has suggested Trump is treating his testimony like a “political rally” and not answering the questions he’s being asked.

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As the court took a 15-minute break, Trump walked out of the courtroom and made the motion of zipping his lips as he walked by a reporter who tried to ask him a question.

When walking back into the courtroom, flanked by his attorneys, Trump gave a thumbs up to those gathered in the courthouse hallway, opting to not stop for remarks as he had before the trial started Monday.

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