Former President Donald Trump made headlines on Monday when he called for a jury trial, calling the ongoing civil lawsuit against him and his businesses that does not involve a jury a “disgrace.” Trump spoke in the high-stakes legal battle begun by New York Attorney General Letitia James, adamantly defending his behavior and saying that she has “no case” against him.
During his five-hour deposition, the 45th President of the United States called the legal actions “election interference” and claimed that the goal was to keep him involved in judicial procedures even after the election was over. This is a scandal. It is election meddling because you want to keep me in court all day long,” Trump remarked, further underlining, “And Judge… I want a jury.”
One of Trump’s attorneys said, “An incredibly spectacular performance by President Trump. He’s not backing down. He’s been completely honest with everyone. This new turn of events has sparked suspicion that Trump’s testimony could change the outcome of this heated legal battle.
The lawsuit, brought by Letitia James, a Democrat, last year, accuses Trump, his children, and the Trump Organization of misleading banks and other parties about the worth of his properties. James claims that the children and allies of the former president have committed “numerous acts of fraud and misrepresentation” on their financial accounts.
The Trump camp has explained that the lack of a jury is due to the consumer protection act under which James filed the claim. A representative for Trump expressed regret that there will be no jury, saying, “It is unfortunate that a jury won’t be able to hear how absurd the merits of this case are and conclude no wrongdoing ever happened.”
When Trump testified in New York, Judge Arthur Engoron tried to limit his answers by saying he wasn’t interested in hearing “everything he has to say.” Trump, however, persisted in his vehement defense of himself and his businesses, branding the probe, lawsuit, and bench trial as baseless.
Trump claimed that his financial statements had caveats that told banks to double-check the figures for themselves. He insisted this was the norm, but the judge didn’t see it that way. “We shouldn’t be having a case here because we have a disclaimer clause that every court holds up except this judge,” said Trump.
In addition to calling Letitia James a “political hack,” Trump has accused her of manipulating the investigation and lawsuit to advance her political goals, including her bid for governor. “This is a political witch hunt, and she should be ashamed of herself,” said Trump.
Trump and his company were found guilty of fraud by Judge Engoron after they inflated their assets and net worth on documents used to secure commercial deals and finance. Trump strongly disagreed with the ruling, arguing that the judge had applied an unfair value to his properties, especially his Palm Beach, Florida, estate, Mar-a-Lago.
Alina Habba, Trump’s attorney, also voiced displeasure with Judge Engoron’s demeanor throughout the trial, saying that the judge had screamed at her and diminished her authority. Habba took a forceful stand on the issue, saying that every citizen of the United States should be able to hire an attorney without fear of reprisal.
Ivanka Trump, Trump’s daughter and a former defendant in the case, is expected to testify later in the proceedings, bringing yet another intriguing twist to this highly publicized trial. The fiery exchanges and legal drama that marked Trump’s hearing came to a close on Monday afternoon, leaving watchers waiting for the next installment in this ongoing legal tale.