Trump Decides Against Further Testimony
Since October, a civil trial against the former US President has been ongoing: Trump is accused of manipulating the assets of his corporation for years. He originally planned to testify in court again, but now he has decided against it.
Former US President Donald Trump now intends to not testify personally in the ongoing fraud trial against him in New York. In his online platform Truth Social, Trump wrote that he has “nothing more to say” about the proceedings. He claims to have already testified “very successfully and convincingly” in the case and, therefore, will not appear in court today.
It was expected that Trump would testify as a defense witness in the final phase of the trial that began in early October. The civil trial revolves around the future of the 77-year-old’s business empire. The prosecution accuses Trump, his sons, and employees of manipulating the value of the Trump Organization for years in order to obtain more favorable loans and insurance contracts.
Prosecutor seeks hefty fine
Trump does not face imprisonment or direct consequences for his presidential campaign, but a conviction could inflict significant damage on his business ventures. Letitia James, the Attorney General of New York State, is seeking a $250 million fine (approximately 234 million euros) and a ban on Trump conducting business in New York.
In November, Trump testified in a heated and partly chaotic session, repeatedly emphasizing that the value of his properties was underestimated but not inflated. However, he openly admitted to influencing financial reports and contradicted himself at times. His children, Donald Jr., Eric, and Ivanka, were also questioned by the prosecution during the trial.
Judge: “This is not a campaign event”
The former president aims to be reelected in 2024 and is the most viable candidate for the Republican nomination. Many observers believe he is using the trial as a campaign platform. Over a month ago, Trump had a confrontation with Judge Arthur Engoron in the courtroom. “This is not a campaign event,” Engoron addressed the Republican. “Please only provide answers to questions, no speeches.” The ex-president, in response, described the trial as “very unfair” and “crazy.”
The trial in New York is one of several legal cases against Trump. In addition to the civil proceedings, he faces charges in four criminal cases. Two of the charges relate to Trump’s attempts to overturn the outcome of the 2020 presidential election and cling onto power.