"This is not a political rally," Donald Trump is told as he testifies in case that threatens his real estate empire.

Trump is now being asked whether the valuations of a number of his properties are accurate.

Instead of answering yes or no, Trump is giving speeches about how and why he invested in various properties.

Again the judge asks Trump’s legal team to stop the speeches.

“I beseech you to control him if you can. If you can’t, I will,” Judge Engoron says.

  • girlfreddy@lemmy.caOP
    491·
    1 year ago

    Kevin Wallace has been showing Trump a series of agreements for loans, which state his business is required to maintain a certain net worth and that his financial statements are “true and correct”.

    The documents relate to properties like his hotels in DC and Chicago, and all bear Trump’s signature. By signing those documents, Trump was agreeing to those terms.

    We’re getting into the weeds now, but also heading towards the crux of the attorney general’s argument - that Trump submitted misleading financial information to banks to secure favourable loans.

    • KevonLooney@lemm.ee
      19·
      1 year ago

      One thing that the average person may not be aware of: knowingly signing a bank document that has false information is punishable by 2 years in federal prison. It’s not punished often, usually bank employees who steal money (and sign documents with incorrect totals) and scam business owners (if you say you run a barbershop to get Covid relief funds, but don’t really have one).

      This isn’t a criminal trial but he’s clearly using tactics that scammers use.

    • UnspecificGravity@discuss.tchncs.de
      10·
      1 year ago

      And his whole defense is that he isn’t literally a murderer and that he totally didn’t need to steal.

      And given the chance to elaborate on that position, his own attorneys had no questions at all.