NY AG Letitia James slams Trump after ex-president dramatically stormed out of court amid audible gasps from court and later fined $10,000 in day of legal fireworks
New York Attorney General Letitia James hit back at former President Donald Trump after he stormed a Manhattan courthouse and was later fined $10,000 in a day of legal fireworks.
In a dramatic outburst Wednesday afternoon in the New York State Supreme Court, the former president threw his arms in the air before standing and leaving.
It came after fixer-turned-enemy Michael Cohen testified that Trump did not order him to inflate the value of his properties.
Trump left the courtroom and told waiting reporters, “The witness just admitted that we won the trial and the judge should end this trial immediately.” Thank you.’
After the explosive day in court, Attorney General Letitia James hit back at Trump, saying the idea that Cohen undermined the state’s case was untrue.
After the explosive day in court, Attorney General Letitia James hit back at Trump, saying the idea that Cohen undermined the state’s case was untrue
Former US President Donald Trump attends the Trump Organization civil fraud trial in the New York State Supreme Court in the Manhattan borough of New York City, US, October 25, 2023
Outside court she said: ‘This has been a four-year investigation and there is mountains of evidence that essentially corroborates the testimony of a number of witnesses.
‘It is also important to know that Michael Cohen is not the main witness. His evidence is corroborated by the mountains of evidence, enough evidence to fill the courtroom.
‘And so I look forward to this process continuing. And I always look, and of course I always look forward to justice. Thank you.
“There is sufficient evidence to prove that Mr. Trump, the Trump Organization, and the other defendants did in fact commit widespread fraud.”
Cohen’s admission – which contradicts his previous testimony – prompted attorney Clifford Robert to request a directed verdict, arguing that his statement was grounds for dismissal.
Judge Arthur Engoron said it was “absolutely denied” and that the case had “evidence all over the place.” He also said he did not consider Cohen a “key witness.”
“There is enough evidence in this case to fill this courtroom,” the judge said.
Michael Cohen, pictured here, testified that Trump did not order him to increase the value of his assets
Donald Trump left the courtroom Wednesday afternoon shortly after one of his lawyers finished questioning fixer and enemy Michael Cohen
Trump’s departure came after he was fined for a second time for violating a gag order.
Judge Engoron fined the former president $10,000 after Engoron determined that comments he made to reporters during a break in the trial violated a partial gag order issued a few weeks ago.
Judge Engoron called Trump to the stand after the lunch break on Wednesday to explain his remarks.
Trump had told reporters outside the courtroom earlier that morning: “This judge is a very partisan judge, with next to him a person who is very partisan, maybe even much more partisan than him” — an apparent reference to his law clerk. Allison Greenfield.
Trump slowly rose from his seat on a bench between his lawyers and took the witness stand, where he adjusted himself before addressing his remarks.
Trump repeated his lawyer’s earlier claims, telling the judge he was referring to his former fixer who testified, Michael Cohen — and not Greenfield.
The comment about partisans was directed at “you and Cohen,” he told the judge, who ultimately found his testimony “not credible.”
“The idea that that statement would relate to the witness, that doesn’t make sense to me,” Engoron said, warning, “Don’t do it again or it will get worse.”
Judge Engoron had paused the proceedings just before the lunch break to scold Trump for his comments, calling it a “blatant, dangerous disobedience” of his court order.
Judge Arthur Engoron interrupted the proceedings shortly before court broke for lunch on Wednesday to scold Trump for publicly speaking out against him and his law clerk Allison Greenfield (left)
Trump was called to the stand to respond to comments he had previously made outside the courtroom about Judge Engoron and his court staff
Five days earlier, Trump had been fined $5,000 after Engoron learned that an offensive social media post from early October had remained on Trump’s campaign website for weeks after being removed – by court order – from Trump’s Truth Social media platform.
Addressing the issue again on Wednesday, Judge Engoron said he imposed the order because “I don’t want anyone to be killed.”
Cohen, who cut ties with Trump five years ago, returned to the stand Wednesday to face further cross-examination by lawyers who have tried to undermine his credibility by portraying him as a convicted felon and serial liar.
Attorney Alina Habba took the floor Tuesday afternoon and attacked Cohen’s credibility by citing comments made by prosecutors during his 2018 sentencing on eight criminal charges, including five counts of tax evasion.
Habba cited statements saying Cohen was “motivated by personal greed” and had “repeatedly used his power and influence for deceptive purposes.”
The then-judge also noted that Cohen’s crimes showed a “pattern of deception that permeated his professional life” and stated that he had “abused his relationship with a powerful individual,” referring to Trump.
Michael Cohen walks outside the New York State Supreme Court after the trial was postponed for a day
While Trump was with his defense team, his lawyer Alina Habba confronted his former fixer Michael Cohen about comments he had made praising Trump before turning on him when Cohen’s legal troubles began in 2018.
In response, Cohen admitted that when he pleaded guilty to the five tax crimes, he did not tell the truth because he did not think they were criminal offenses.
Attorney General James found that Trump and his company deceived banks, insurers and others by massively overvaluing his assets and exaggerating his assets with the paperwork used in closing deals and securing financing.
Prosecutors allege he has increased his net worth by between $812 million and $2.2 billion every year over the past decade.
James claims Trump inflated his valuations as he sought loans. Trump’s lawyers are asking a judge to dismiss the case, calling it a “crusade” over long-ago loans.
She said he has increased valuations by as much as $2 billion, boosting the value of signature assets including the Mar-a-Lago club where he now resides and his Manhattan penthouse apartment in Trump Tower.
Trump gestures as he returns to the courtroom after a break in his civil fraud case at the New York Supreme Court. He was fined $10,000 for violating the judge’s silence order for the second time
James is seeking $250 million in fines and a ban on Trump doing business in New York, his home state. The process could last until December, Engoron said.
Trump has long accused James and other prosecutors in New York of coming after him in what he described as a “witch hunt.”
On Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump also said, “The New York State Attorney General’s case against me is DEAD, but the radical left judge REFUSES to end it.
‘He just can’t let it go. Their “star” witness lied like a dog on the witness stand today and then admitted that I did NOTHING WRONG!
‘A total SleazeBag. Letitia James should focus on violent crimes, which are spiraling out of control.
‘So unfair. I won’t even get a jury trial. A stain on the New York State justice system.
‘Companies all over the world are watching and never come in, but only move. The governor should get involved. Election interference by my political opponent!’