Donald Trump takes stand at New York fraud trial; judge directs lawyer to ‘control his client’

Trump has repeatedly said the case is “witch hunt” and has accused Engoron and New York Attorney General Letitia James of being politically biased against him.

He kept up those complaints on the witness box, where he accused legal authorities of paying unduly close attention to his business after he won the 2016 presidential election.

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

“This is a very unfair trial,” he added later.

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Trump’s remarks drew a sharp reprimand from Engoron, who threatened to cut his testimony short.

“Mr Kise, can you control your client? This is not a political rally. This is a courtroom,” Engoron asked Trump’s lawyer, Christopher Kise.

James brushed aside Trump’s attacks.

“At the end of the day, the only thing that matters are the facts and the numbers. The numbers, my friends, don’t lie,” James said outside the courthouse before Trump’s testimony.

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Trump gained over US$100 million through fraud, New York says as civil trial starts

Trump gained over US$100 million through fraud, New York says as civil trial starts

Indeed, Trump has sought to take advantage of the legal cases, using them to solicit campaign donations and argue that he is being targeted for his political views.

But the civil fraud case against Trump and his business could undercut his image, cultivated over decades, as a glamorous billionaire who shuttles between elegant resorts and premium golf courses that bear his name.

James is seeking US$250 million in fines, as well as restrictions that would prevent Trump and his sons Eric and Donald Jnr from doing business in their home state.

In testimony last week, both sons said they were unfamiliar with the details of the valuation documents. Trump made that argument as well, saying accountants did the bulk of the work.

Engoron has already cancelled business certificates for companies that control large portions of his business, though that order is on hold during appeal.

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Evidence introduced at trial so far has revealed that company officials, including Trump’s sons Eric and Donald Jnr, tried to manipulate the assessed value of trophy properties like the Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

One witness, his former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen, testified that Trump directed him to doctor financial statements to boost his net worth.

Trump’s anger has been clear throughout.

Though his presence until Monday has not been required in court, he has already appeared several times to glower at the proceedings from the defendant’s table and complain about the case to television cameras outside the chamber.

That has earned him fines of US$15,000 for twice violating a limited gag order that prevents him from criticising court staff. Trump’s lawyers have chafed at that order and indicated they might use it as the basis for an appeal, but Engoron expanded it on Friday to cover them as well.

Trump’s crowded legal calendar threatens to take him off the campaign trail for much of next year.

His election campaign’s written fundraising appeals at the outset of the trial on October 2 said Trump was defending his family and reputation from New York Democrats, calling them “corrupt tyrants.”

Republican voters do not seem to be bothered by his legal woes, as opinion polls show he holds a commanding lead in the party’s presidential nominating contest.

The trial was originally expected to run until early December but could wrap up sooner as the state calls its final witnesses this week. It is unclear how many witnesses the defence will call.

Trump’s daughter Ivanka is expected to testify on Wednesday, though she is not a defendant in the case.