Trump 'did nothing wrong,' says 'they should pay me' in fiery exchange with judge in civil fraud trial: 'I've been persecuted' – New York Post
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Donald Trump proclaimed, “I did nothing wrong” as he was unexpectedly allowed to address a New York court Thursday at the close of the civil fraud trial that threatens his business empire.
The dramatic moment unfolded after three Trump lawyers each made their final pitch to Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron, arguing that the claims and proposed $370 million fine against the former president were “manufactured.”
“I did nothing wrong, they should pay me for what we’ve had to go through,” Trump, 77, said of New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office, which is prosecuting the case and seeking the enormous penalty.
Engoron — who has said he expects to issue a decision on the non-jury case by the end of the month — ruled Wednesday that Trump couldn’t participate in closing arguments because he hadn’t agreed to stick to “relevant, material facts.”
Just before the court’s lunch break Thursday, though, Trump attorney Christopher Kise asked Engoron if his client could speak.
“If I let you speak, do you promise to just stick to the law and the facts?” Engoron asked Trump, who sat at the defense table, flanked by his attorneys.
The real estate tycoon — wearing a blue suit, white shirt and red tie — didn’t answer the question and instead launched into a rambling speech over Engoron’s protests that “this is not how this should have been done.”
“This case goes outside of just the facts,” Trump said as he began addressing the judge from his seat. “The facts are that the financial statements were perfect, the banks were as happy as can be.”
“This is not a consumer fraud. What happened here, sir, is a fraud on me,” he said.
“We have a situation where I’m an innocent man,” Trump said. “I’ve been persecuted.”
Trump, the GOP front-runner for the 2024 nomination, then started making political attacks, including calling the case a “political witch hunt” and muttering about the judge, “I know you have your own agenda.”
“Mr. Kise, please control your client,” an annoyed Engoron responded.
Engoron — who was timing Trump to ensure he only spoke for five minutes — at one point held up his phone, saying “One minute,” and signaled that Trump needed to wrap it up.
After five minutes, Engoron cut Trump off, saying, “Thank you, Mr. Trump, this should have been done differently. You would have had a lot more time.”
Trump left the building during the lunch break and later held a press conference at 40 Wall Street, a so-called jewel of the Trump Organization and one of the Manhattan properties threatened by James’ suit.
Both James and Eric Trump, the former president’s son, sat in the first row of the courtroom during Kise’s roughly two hours of closing remarks, in which he alleged that the AG was trying to put Trump out of business — despite the fact that he’s been a “part of the fabric of the real estate” in New York City and the country for years.
He claimed the case was “manufactured” by James in order to “pursue a political agenda.”
James’ office claims that Trump lied on yearly financial statements from 2011 to 2021, exaggerating his wealth by billions for better loan and insurance terms.
But Kise reiterated his argument that there were no victims in the case, saying that the banks and Trump both benefited from his loans.
“They are opening up the door and rolling out the red carpet” for Trump, Kise told Engoron about banks. “He’s a whale client.”
He also slammed the AG’s key witness, Michael Cohen, as a “serial liar” who “hates Trump” and asked the judge not to put stock in the convicted felon’s testimony.
Trump lawyer Alina Habba then spoke briefly, theatrically addressing the 60 Centre St. courtroom gallery as she sarcastically said, “Some fraud! What a fraudster.”
Habba then said Trump “did his best” and never intended “to hurt” the Empire State.
Cliff Robert, a lawyer for Trump’s eldest sons, Eric and Don Jr., hyperbolically said the AG was seeking a professional “death penalty” against his clients.
Cohen — Trump’s former lawyer and “fixer” — told The Post by email Thursday that Trump was playing the “blame game” and predicted that the former commander-in-chief would lose the case.
In the afternoon, lawyers with the AG’s office closed out the marathon day with another roughly two-and-a-half hours of arguments to a noticeably less crowded courtroom, as Trump held a competing press conference from his namesake skyscraper a little over a mile away.
“If you look at it across time, it becomes clear that fraud was central to the operation of the Trump Organization’s business,” AG lawyer Kevin Wallace charged in much tamer remarks.
Trump has shown “no remorse,” Wallace said.
“Nothing is his fault” and everything is a “conspiracy to him,” the lawyer added.
Wallace calmly detailed the evidence the AG’s office believes proves their case that Trump lied on financial filings to secure cushy interest rates that gave him a lifeline when he was cash strapped.
When the trial finally wrapped around 5 p.m., Engoron said he hoped to render his verdict by Jan. 31, but warned it’s “not a guarantee.”
Outside the courthouse, James told reporters that Trump’s repeated personal attacks on her since trial began in October, “really don’t bother me.”
“The fact is that this trial has shown — and we have produced evidence — about the scope, the scale, the depth, the breadth of the illegality, the fraud, that personally enriched Donald Trump and his family.”
On Wednesday, Engoron told Kise that Trump wouldn’t be allowed to make closing arguments because his team refused to abide by the judge’s condition that Trump follow the same rules that a lawyer would have to, in keeping only to evidence presented at trial.
Before trial began Thursday morning, Engoron received a bomb threat at his Great Neck home, causing speculation about whether trial would start on time. But the closing arguments began just after 10 a.m. as planned with enhanced security at the Lower Manhattan courthouse.
Trump’s lawyers had asked for closings to be postponed since Trump’s mother-in-law, Amalija Knavs, passed away on Tuesday.
Engoron denied that request, citing disruption to the court staff, but the judge still offered his condolences and apology.
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