Trump made strong criticism of the state attorney in New York, Letita James when he appeared in court this afternoon. He blamed her for being corrupt. – This is an attempt to destroy me in the election campaign, said Trump. He called the case fraud and deception, and a shame for the nation. And he added: – I think the voters understand this. Every time I appear in court, I go up in the opinion polls, he said. The judge, Arthur Engoron, was referred to as a “thug”. Donald Trump inside the courtroom in New York together with his lawyers. Photo: POOL / AFP Questions about compensation In a court decision from 26 September, the judge states that Trump was guilty of fraud while building up his property empire. The court case itself will therefore primarily be about how much he and the others who are also defendants must pay in compensation. The public prosecutor has asked for at least 250 million dollars in compensation. Three of his grown children are among the co-defendants – Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump and Ivanka Trump. Donald Trump and three of his children are guilty of extensive fraud. From left Eric, Donald Jr., Ivanka and Donald Trump. Photo: Gary Cameron / Reuters Alleged to have inflated the fortune According to the decision, Trump’s property company must have tricked banks and insurance companies into believing that his properties were worth more than they were, so that it gave cheaper loans, insurance and lower taxes. Trump is also said to have “repeatedly” inflated his fortune – with up to 3.6 billion dollars (almost NOK 40 billion) – to banks and insurance companies. Letita James, Attorney General of New York. Photo: Kathy Willens / AP – No one is above the law – No one is above the law, said the State Attorney in New York, Letita James shortly before the court session started. And she added: – No matter how powerful you are, no matter how much money you think you have, no one is above the law. Trump’s lawyer, Alina Habba, said the following before the meeting started: – We will continue to fight, in the hope that there is a minimum of law and order here. Although my trust in the system is low, I have faith in Donald Trump. It was last year that Attorney General Letitia James sued Trump, his three children and the family business, the Trump Organization. In a document over 200 pages long, the state attorney claimed that the fraud covered all parts of the Trump company, including properties and golf courses. Former President Donald Trump spoke to reporters when the day ended for legal proceedings in a civil trial in New York Monday, October 2, 2023 Photo: AP Donald Trump has categorically rejected the debts and claims the trial is a political attack against him, which has gotten him out of the election campaign. – They have succeeded, they have got me out of the election campaign. I have been in the courtroom all day, instead of being in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina or other places, Trump said as he left the courtroom on Monday. The case will probably last until December 22, according to the judge.
ttn-69