Former President Donald Trump made an unprecedented and defiant speech in court on Friday, as he faced a civil fraud trial in New York.
Trump, who is accused of inflating the value of his assets to obtain loans and tax benefits, ignored the judge’s rules and launched into a six-minute rant, claiming he was innocent and persecuted by political enemies.
Trump spoke as the judge was trying to find out if he would follow guidelines requiring him to keep his remarks focused on matters related to the trial. Asked whether he would comply with the guidelines, Trump defied the judge and simply started his speech. “We have a situation where I am an innocent man,” Trump protested. “I’m being persecuted by someone running for office and I think you have to go outside the bounds.”
Trump accused the judge of having “his own agenda” and not listening to him. He also repeated his allegations that the trial was a “political witch hunt” and “election interference” by the New York attorney general, who is seeking to ban him from running for office again. He said the financial statements he submitted were “perfect” and that there were no witnesses against him. He also demanded damages for the harm done to his reputation.
Judge Arthur Engoron, who had denied Trump’s request to deliver a formal closing argument earlier, let him continue almost entirely uninterrupted, then cut him off and recessed for lunch. Engoron had also nixed an unusual plan by Trump to deliver his own closing remarks in addition to summations from his legal team, after lawyers for the former president would not agree to the judge’s demand that he stick to “relevant” matters.
The exchange took place hours after authorities responded to a bomb threat at the judge’s house. Police checked out the threat at Engoron’s Long Island home, which came a day after he denied the former president’s extraordinary request to deliver his own courtroom close, officials said. The proceedings were not delayed.
The civil fraud trial, which began on Monday, is the first time Trump has testified under oath since leaving the White House. The New York attorney general’s office alleges that Trump and his company, the Trump Organization, misled lenders and tax authorities by inflating the value of his properties and assets by billions of dollars. The lawsuit seeks to force Trump to pay back $2.5 million in tax benefits he received, as well as impose a 10-year ban on him serving as an officer or director of any New York-based nonprofit organization.
The trial is expected to conclude next week, after lawyers for the state give their closing remarks. The judge will then issue a written decision at a later date.
Trump, who is also facing criminal charges in New York and Georgia, has vowed to appeal any adverse ruling. He has also hinted at running for president again in 2024, despite being impeached twice and banned from several social media platforms.
