When Donald Trump takes the stand on Monday, he will transition from his position beside his lawyers to a seat on the witness stand. He will be seated to the left of a judge whom he has referred to as a wacko, just a few feet away from a biased clerk, and directly across from a state attorney general whom he has accused, without evidence, of being a dirty cop. After observing from the sidelines for over a month, Trump is set to play the leading role as a witness in his own civil fraud trial, which is valued at $250 million.
According to sources from ABC News, Trump spent Sunday evening in New York preparing with his attorneys for his testimony on Monday. These sources describe Trump as oscillating between fits of anger regarding the case and being in a good mental state, ready to conclude his testimony. One source even mentioned that the former president "can be a good witness if he stays focused."
New York Attorney General Letitia James intends to summon Trump as the penultimate witness for the state, setting the stage for a dramatic face-off in a case that could potentially jeopardize the former president's business empire. Trump can attempt to conceal his wrongdoings with taunts and threats, but we will not be intimidated into refraining from revealing the truth," James stated on social media on Sunday.
Sources from ABC News indicate that when it's the defense's turn to present their case, some members of the Trump family, including the former president himself, could once again take the stand.
James alleges that Trump and his adult sons relied on false financial statements to conduct a decade-long business venture, enriching themselves through better loan conditions, advantageous insurance policies, and a reputation bolstered by Trump's purported high net worth. As per James' claim, Trump instructed his executives to falsify records to inflate the value of his eponymous buildings and other assets.
Trump has adamantly denied any wrongdoing and has labeled James a "dirty cop," asserting that her case is a form of "election interference."
The judge presiding over the trial has been partially persuaded by the state's arguments. In a partial summary judgment on the eve of the trial, the judge concluded that Trump and his adult sons bear responsibility for employing "false and misleading" statements in their business dealings. The trial will subsequently determine additional steps and any potential penalties for the defendants.
Trump has appealed this ruling and has criticized both James and Judge Arthur Engoron, accusing them of being politically motivated.
This will be the second occasion that Trump takes the stand when he is sworn in on Monday morning to give his testimony. At a previous courtroom visit two weeks ago to observe the testimony of his former attorney Michael Cohen, Trump was unexpectedly summoned to the witness stand by Judge Engoron. The judge questioned Trump regarding a statement he had made, which the judge believed was directed towards his clerk, thus violating a limited gag order that the judge had imposed, prohibiting all parties from making public comments about his staff.
This judge is a very partisan judge, with a person who's very partisan sitting alongside of him, perhaps even much more partisan than he is," Trump commented in the courtroom hallway that morning. Despite Trump's assertion that he was referring to Michael Cohen, who was seated next to the judge in the witness stand, Engoron remained unconvinced and proceeded to personally interrogate the former president.
Trump appeared unperturbed and at ease in the witness box, providing generally brief responses. However, he did take a direct jab at the judge's clerk.
"I think she is very biased against us. I think we made that clear. We put up a picture and you didn't want that up," Trump stated on the witness stand, referring to his social media post that led to the initial gag order.
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