NEW YORK (1010 WINS/AP) — Donald Trump was in Manhattan Monday to make a voluntary trip to court for the start of a civil trial in a lawsuit that already has resulted in a judge ruling he committed fraud in his business dealings. The trial is the culmination of a yearslong probe by New York A.G. Letitia James, who accused Trump and his company of habitually lying about his wealth in financial statements. As the judge has already ruled Trump committed fraud, the sides are now battling over the penalties, including a potential $250 million fine and a ban on Trump doing business in New York, which could lead to him losing control of prized properties like Trump Tower.
Here's the latest:
12 p.m. (PST)-- Trump rails against NYC crime, judge in case
Trump mentioned New York City crime as he blasted the Attorney General Letitia James, Judge Arthur Engoron and the entire trial while talking with news reporters outside the courtroom.
"The violent crime that is being committed in our city and state is disgraceful, and we're going to be here for months with a judge that already made up his mind," a clearly angry Trump said. "It's ridiculous."
Engoron ruled last week that Trump committed fraud in his business dealings. If upheld on appeal, the ruling could force Trump to give up New York properties including Trump Tower, a Wall Street office building, golf courses and a suburban estate.
While the ruling has been made, the trial will determine what penalties Trump and his family business will face. The trial is expected to last into December, Engoron said.
10:45 a.m. (PST) -- Trump calls trial 'disgraceful' during lunch break
Donald Trump sat through hours of sometimes testy opening arguments Monday in a fraud lawsuit that could cost him control of some of his most prized properties.
“Disgraceful trial,” he declared during a lunch break, after listening to lawyers for A.G. Letitia James excoriate him as a habitual liar.
Trump sneered at James as he passed her on his way out at lunchtime; she, by turn, left smiling. Meanwhile, his campaign immediately began fundraising off the appearance.
8:30 a.m. (PST) -- NY AG team shows evidence as trial opens
As the trial opened, the attorney general's team showed video from depositions from Eric Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Michael Cohen and Allen Weisselberg, the former CFO of the Trump Org., to show they were all inflating the value of assets. The attorneys used financial statements to support their claim that a shell case was going on to prop up assets like properties.
In his deposition, Cohen says Trump would give him and Weisselberg a net worth number and they'd have to work backwards to get to it.
“They were lying year after year after year,” Kevin Wallace, a lawyer in James' office, said in an opening statement as Trump sat at the defense table. He looked straight ahead, arms crossed, facing away from the screen that showed details of Wallace's presentation.
Defense lawyer Christopher Kise, in his opening, said that the financial statements were true, and he suggested the proof was in the outcome of Trump's business career.
“He has made a fortune, literally, being right about real estate investments," Kise said.
The defense will work to demonstrate no intent to defraud, no unjust profits and no victims. They'll say the only evidence points to Cohen, who they've called a serial liar.
8 a.m. (PST) – Trump sits in court after calling NY AG a 'horror show'
Photos show Trump sitting in a courtroom at the New York State Supreme Court Building on Centre Street around the time the trial was kicking off with an opening statement from the New York attorney general's team.
While speaking with reporters moments earlier, Trump said: "This is a continuation of the single, greatest witch hunt of all time. We have a rogue judge who rules properties are working a tiny fraction—1/100th—a tiny fraction of what they actually are. We have a racist attorney general who's a horror show who ran on the basis that she's going to get Trump before she even knew anything about me."
7:30 a.m. (PST)-- Trump arrives in courtroom; slams AG, judge in post
Donald Trump arrived in the courtroom shortly after 10 a.m. with his son Eric Trump.
The former president was wearing a royal blue tie, light blue shirt and charcoal gray suit. He didn't appear to immediately notice A.G. Letitia James, who is seated in the right, front row.
In an all-caps Truth Social post, Trump again accused James of being "racist" and Judge Arthur Engoronof being a "rogue, out of control Trump hating judge."
"THIS IS THE CONTINUATION OF THE GREATEST WITCH HUNT OF ALL TIME. ELECTION INTERFERENCE!" he wrote.
He told reporters at the courthouse, "It's a scam, it's a sham. Just so you know, my financial statements are phenomenal. They are actually less in terms of the numbers used."
Meanwhile, James told reporters that "justice will prevail" as she headed to the courthouse.
“No matter how powerful you are, and no matter how much money you think you have, no one is above the law," she said.
7:15 a.m. (PST) – Photos show Trump heading to court, protesters
Donald Trump made the trip from Trump Tower to state court on Centre Street, where a group of protesters held signs and shouted. Photos show the scene:
6:45 a.m. (PST) -- Trump arrives in court, James is in front row
Donald Trump arrived at New York state court at 60 Centre St. in Lower Manhattan on Monday morning along with a team of lawyers and a cadre of Secret Service agents.
Letitia James was seated in the front row of the courtroom, meaning Trump will have to walk right past the attorney general.
While Trump will be in court, he isn't expected to speak until he's called to testify, which is likely weeks away.
The former president will be there as James' team delivers an opening statement.
4:45 a.m. (PST) -- NY AG says Trump will be 'held accountable'
A.G. Letitia James wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that her office is "confident that Trump, his associates, and his company will be held accountable for their years of wrongdoing, because no one is above the law."
4:15 a.m. (PST) -- Trump rails against judge, A.G., 'WHOLE CASE IS SHAM!'
Trump lashed out Sunday night and again Monday at A.G. Letitia James, who is suing him, and Judge Arthur Engoron, who is presiding over the non-jury trial and ruled last week that Trump committed fraud for years while building the real estate empire that catapulted him to fame and the White House.
Ruling in James' lawsuit, Engoron found that Trump and his company deceived banks, insurers and others by massively overvaluing his assets and exaggerating his net worth on paperwork used in making deals and securing loans.
“I’m going to Court tomorrow morning to fight for my name and reputation,” Trump wrote Sunday night on his Truth Social platform.
Hours later, he wrote another post slamming James and Engoron as "Democrat Operatives" who are a "disgrace to New York, and the United States of America!"
3:45 a.m. (PST) -- Security tight at Trump Tower as ex-president back in town
Security was increased outside Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue in Midtown on Monday, with Donald Trump back in town for his civil fraud trial. He'll head to Manhattan Supreme Court around 10 a.m.
3:30 a.m. (PST) -- Trump stayed at Trump Tower ahead of court appearance
Trump walked into Trump Tower in Midtown around 8 p.m. Sunday. He stayed the night ahead of a morning appearance in court.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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