Washington: Former US President Donald Trump's lawyer argued on Thursday that a New York civil fraud case that threatens his business empire is motivated by politics, as a threat against the judge overseeing the case prompted the court to bolster security on the trial's final day. "This entire case is a manufactured claim to pursue a political agenda," attorney Christopher Kise argued as Trump watched from the defence table. "It has always been press releases and posturing, but no proof at all."
New York Attorney General Letitia James is seeking to ban Trump from the state's real estate industry and force nearly $370 million in penalties for allegedly manipulating the value of his properties to win better financing terms. Justice Arthur Engoron has already ruled that Trump and his company engaged in fraud. The New York Times reported that authorities in suburban Nassau County responded to a bomb threat at Engoron's home. The judge has been a frequent target of Trump's criticism.
A court spokesperson confirmed that Engoron had been threatened and a Nassau County spokesperson confirmed that police had responded to a security incident at a residence at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time, without providing further details. Security has been an issue throughout the months-long trial. Engoron's top staffer faced threats after Trump criticized her as politically biased, prompting the judge to issue a gag order barring him from disparaging court staff. Trump has been fined $15,000 for twice violating the order.
Watch video: Donald Trump arrives in courtroom
Most recently, Engoron on Wednesday denied Trump's bid to deliver his own closing arguments after the former president would not accept ground rules barring him from making a "campaign speech."
Trump calls trial "witch hunt"
As he arrived at court, Trump again criticized the trial as a "witch hunt" and complained that he was not being allowed to make his case. Trump said he would hold a news conference after the hearing wraps up. "I really have no rights," Trump said. As James, an elected Democrat, arrived at the courthouse, onlookers cheered and chanted, "Thank you, James." Police stood guard and tightly controlled entrances to the building. Trump, the frontrunner for the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic President Joe Biden in the November election, has denied wrongdoing. He has complained that the trial is interfering with his campaign but has used occasional court appearances to argue that he is the victim of political persecution.
Republican voters in Iowa and New Hampshire will be the first to decide their preferred nominee this month. Trump's legal troubles have not diminished his commanding lead over party rivals. Trump has pleaded not guilty in four criminal prosecutions, including two that charge him with unlawfully trying to overturn his 2020 election loss to Biden. All could go to trial before this year's election. Engoron will issue a verdict at a later date without a jury. He found Trump liable for fraud in September, leaving the trial to focus largely on how much money Trump should surrender as ill-gotten gains. Trump has appealed Engoron's prior order and is almost certain to appeal any verdict against him, which could delay a final judgment for many months to a year or more.
Did Trump overvalue his properties?
Throughout trial, the state's lawyers sought to show that Trump consistently overvalued many of the towers, golf clubs and other assets that burnished his reputation as a business mogul before he entered politics. Trump admitted to providing inaccurate property valuations during defiant and meandering testimony in November. Kise argued on Thursday that any alleged manipulation was harmless as banks and insurers that worked with the Trump Organization still turned a profit. They would have been eager to do business with Trump even if his net worth was far lower, Kise said. "He's a whale client," Kise said.
The trial earlier featured a tense face-to-face reunion between Trump and his onetime lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen, who testified that Trump directed him to manipulate asset values. Kise on Thursday called Cohen a "serial liar." Trump's adult children Donald Jr., Eric and Ivanka Trump also testified, saying they had little involvement in that aspect of the business. Unlike her brothers, Ivanka Trump is not a defendant.
(With inputs from Reuters)
