Everything we know as Trump testifies before $250m trial judge he called 'wacko'
Former US President Donald Trump is set to take the stand today as he testifies in his own $250 million civil fraud trial.
He will be swapping his chair next to his legal team for the witness stand as he testifies, sitting right next to a judge he has called 'wacko', just feet from a clerk he has referred to as biased and facing an attorney general he has called a dirty cop. Since charges were announced, Trump has been vocal on his Truth Social platform, going after those in the case he felt were against him and repeatedly referring to it as a 'political witch hunt'.
According to sources, Trump spent Sunday evening in New York preparing with his attorneys for his testimony. Sources said the business mogul swung between fits of anger over the case and being in a "good head space", ready to get his testimony over with. One source said Trump "can be a good witness if he stays focused."
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New York's Attorney General Letitia James is set to call Trump as the second-to-last witness for the state in what's being slated as a dramatic showdown that could have major implications for his business empire. Taking to social media on Sunday, Ms James said: "Trump can try to hide his wrongdoings behind taunts and threats, but we will not be bullied out of uncovering the truth."
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The case in question
The case brought forward by Ms James alleged Trump and other members of the Trump Organization, including his adult sons, used false statements of financial condition to conduct business deals securing better loans and deals. Trump has denied all wrongdoing and called Ms James a "dirty cop", saying her case is a form of "election interference".
Trump has previously hit out at both the judge and attorney general involved in his case (AP)Trump will be taking the stand for a second time in this case as he's sworn in. Two weeks ago as he watched the testimony of his former lawyer Michael Cohen, Trump was unexpectedly summoned to the witness stand to be questioned by Judge Engoron about a statement he had made that the judge believed was directed at his clerk.
Donald gagged
It came after a gag order was imposed prohibiting all parties from making public comments about his staff. In the courtroom hallway that morning, Trump commented: "This judge is a very partisan judge, with a person who's very partisan sitting alongside of him, perhaps even much more partisan than he is."
Despite Trump maintaining he was referring to Michael Cohen, who sat next to the judge in the witness stand, Judge Engoron was not convinced and so decided to question the former president personally. While Trump appeared unbothered on the stand, he took a clear jab at the clerk.
Eric Trump took the stand last week in his father's trial (Getty Images)"I think she is very biased against us. I think that we made that clear. We put up a picture and you didn't want that up," said Trump, referring to his social media post that prompted the initial gag order. Ultimately, the judge found Trump's testimony was "not credible". He wrote in a decision that the businessman's testimony rang "hollow and untrue". Trump was also fined $10,000 for the statement.
Judge attacked
After Trump's sons Eric and Donald Jr took the stand on Thursday, Trump took to social media again to demand Judge Engoron to stop "hurting my very good children.". Taking to Truth Social, he wrote: "He is the 'Fraudster', not me - He is just doing this out of his personal 'Hatred of TRUMP', his love of the publicity that this case is getting him, & his lack of respect for the Appeals Court (He is in total violation of their order ending much of this Witch Hunt right now. He refuses to do what they say he must!)
Donald Jr has also testified in his father's case (Getty Images)"Engoron is a wacko who is having a great time endlessly sanctioning, fining, & pushing around 'TRUMP', hurting my very good children, & working to damage & defame me for purposes of Interfering with the 2024 Presidential Election, all this while never admonishing our failed & corrupt Attorney General, whose 'Star Witness' admitted he lies, & that I did NOT tell him to inflate values, a total reversal. Their whole case was based on this single LOSER, so it should be dismissed."
Trump's tangents
It's unclear how Trump will approach being questioned on the stand. Previously, he has invoked his constitutional right against self-incrimination, known as pleading the fifth, in this case. While testifying in oath in a deposition, Trump pleaded the fifth more than 400 times, though he did answer some questions.
However, during his second deposition, Trump offered lengthy answers, speaking over lawyers and going off on tangents about unrelated topics such as how he prevented a "nuclear holocaust" as president, according to a transcript of the deposition. State attorney Kevin Wallace, who will be questioning Trump in court, said to Trump's lawyer: "Chris, we're going to be here until midnight if your client answers every question with an eight-minute speech."
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