UNITED STATES: On Thursday Trump Jr., the son of the president, is scheduled to testify for a second day regarding the family business’s financial records, which a New York judge said were falsely inflated in order to deceive lenders and insurers.
Donald Jr. is one of four family members who will testify in a civil fraud trial in New York. The trial might hinder the real estate business that established his father’s reputation as a successful businessman prior to his entry into politics.
The former U.S. president is scheduled to provide testimony on Monday, marking one of several courtroom appearances for the leading candidate for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
New York Attorney General Letitia James aims to secure a minimum of $250 million in damages and obtain a permanent prohibition on Trump, Donald Jr., and Eric from engaging in business activities within the state.
Judge Arthur Engoron has previously determined that the three defendants, along with their company, engaged in fraudulent practices by exaggerating the values of prestigious properties and other assets to secure favourable financing terms.
Judge Engoron has issued a ruling for the dissolution of companies that oversee key components of Trump’s real estate holdings, such as Trump Tower in Manhattan. However, this ruling is currently on hold as Trump pursues an appeal.
During his testimony on Wednesday, Donald Jr. attempted to downplay his role in the preparation of the company’s financial statements, asserting that they were predominantly handled by company accountants.
He lightened the atmosphere in the courtroom by making self-deprecating remarks about his limited financial expertise, showcasing a different persona compared to the assertive image he has maintained as his father’s political advocate.
Amid his campaign to return to the White House, Donald Trump is confronting numerous legal challenges, with the trial being just one of them. He is currently grappling with a total of 91 felony charges across four distinct criminal prosecutions, two of which are linked to his efforts to overturn the outcome of the 2020 election.
Despite these legal issues, Trump maintains a significant lead over his competitors in the race for the Republican presidential nomination, positioning him as the frontrunner to potentially face Democratic President Joe Biden in the November 2024 election.
Trump has consistently refuted any allegations of misconduct in both his criminal and civil cases and has alleged that James and Engoron exhibit political bias.
He hasn’t faced repercussions for these allegations, but Engoron did impose a $15,000 fine on him for two breaches of a narrow gag order prohibiting him from making public statements about court personnel.
Additionally, he is subject to a restricted gag order for the federal election subversion trial in Washington, which Trump argues infringes upon his freedom of speech rights.
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