Trump fraud trial: Donald Trump Jr to testify at New York court – live

Michiel McCarty, the state’s expert witness is backing up the attorney general’s argument that even if lenders are not harmed by a company that gives them inaccurate financial statement, and makes money off the deal, they take on more risk if financial statements are inaccurate. If they had calculated that extra risk into the loans they gave to the Trump Organization, they would have made more money.

This is pretty much the core of what the trial is about. It’s a weird one because no one, including any companies, were not actively harmed by the Trump Organization’s fudged financial statements. Rather, it’s the state going after the Trump Org for bad and unethical business practices, even if there were no direct consequences from their actions.

The state law that allows the attorney general’s office to do this, Executive Law 63(12), gives the AG power to go after a company even if there was no harm allowed, a very broad power the state is using to go after the Trump Organization.

McCarty on the stand is essentially giving the state an opportunity to explain to the judge the risk companies unknowingly took on when doing business with the Trump Organization and how much money the company saved because of its illegal business practices.

Trump’s lawyers have argued against these claims, saying that the lenders were happy with their relationships with the Trump Organization, and that ultimately the company was accurately valuing their assets.

Attorney general’s expert witness takes the stand

Ahead of his eldest child taking the witness stand, Donald Trump went on a multi-post screed against the trial on Truth Social this morning. In the first part, posted around 2:30 am, Trump went off about Michael Cohen’s testimony and ended with a demand to “leave my children alone, Engoron. You are a disgrace to the legal profession!”.

The second post, another rant directed against “political hack” Engoron, ended with the line, “WITCH HUNT!!! ELECTION INTERFERENCE!!!”

In the third post, Trump claimed “we won against Engoron in the Appeals Court”, likely referring to the court throwing out Ivanka Trump from the case over the summer because the claims against her were too old. Of course, the appellate court kept much of the case intact and allowed the trial to move forward. Trump’s appeal against Engoron’s pre-trial summary judgment, which found him guilty of fraud and could lead to the dissolution of his real estate business, is still going through the appeals court.

Trump said Engoron “put a RIDICULOUS GAG ORDER ON ME, which we will appeal. He fines me at levels never seen before.” Of course, even posting about a judge on social media and going off against him right outside the courtroom doors is seen as a huge digression from the respect defendants usually have to show judges. But then again, this whole trial is a digression from what usually happens in typical fraud trials.

Judge Arthur Engoron just entered the courtroom, and yesterday’s witness David Orowitz, a former Trump Org exec, is wrapping up his testimony. Engoron mentioned today is a “busy day” for the trial.

As we wait for Donald Trump Jr to take the stand, here’s how the attorney general’s office described his role in the Trump Organization in their initial complaint filed September 2022:

Donald Trump, Jr. oversees the Trump Organization’s property portfolio and is involved in all aspects of the company’s property development, from deal evaluation, analysis and pre-development planning to construction, branding, marketing, operations, sales and leasing. Donald Trump Jr. is also responsible for all of the commercial leasing for the Trump Organization which includes Trump Tower and 40 Wall Street.

Trump clearly played a big role in a handful of the properties that are covered in the case. In the complaint, the AG’s office said that an appraisal valued 40 Wall Street at $220m in 2012, but the Trump Organization in financial documents valued it at $527m that same year. Expect granular questions from the AG’s office about how Trump Jr helped the company value specific properties like 40 Wall Street.

Letitia James is here, in her usual seat at the front of the audience benches in the courtroom. James, along with New York judge Arthur Engoron, who is overseeing the case, has been one of Donald Trump’s main targets when he rails about this trial outside the courtroom or on social media. Still, James has made it a point to show up, even if Trump doesn’t.

In a video posted to Twitter, James marked the 20th day of the trial (that’s not including weekends and holidays) by saying that “the truth of our case is clear, and the defendents are willfully choosing to ignore it”.

“The truth always comes out in the end.”

Every morning Donald Trump is expected to come to the courtroom, there’s usually a big fanfare right at the steps of the courthouse and outside the courtroom.

This morning, the camera presence feels thinner, especially compared to last week, when Michael Cohen took the witness stand. Trump made it a point to show up to Cohen’s testimony, perhaps unable to resist the competing attention Cohen was getting.

But for his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, the first in the family to testify, Trump is not expected to show up. Take that as you will.

Trump Jr hasn’t shown up the court before, though he is listed as a defendant on the case. His brother, Eric Trump, has consistently shone up, sitting a few rows behind his father and mirroring his scoffs. Eric Trump is expected to testify tomorrow, and it’s unclear if Trump will show up.

Trump Jr testimony to kick off several days of family members in court