Trump has had enough of these bogus court cases.
A video circulating widely on social media captures a somber-looking Donald Trump in a courtroom on Tuesday. This courtroom drama stems from a civil fraud trial that poses a significant threat to the former president’s real estate empire. The trial is a result of a lawsuit filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James.
According to Newsweek, back in September, Judge Arthur Engoron made a pretrial decision that addressed the lawsuit’s primary allegation. In his ruling, Judge Engoron determined that Trump and his company had consistently misled banks, insurers, and other entities by inflating the value of their assets on annual financial statements. These statements were used to secure loans and facilitate business transactions.
The ongoing trial, with a $250 million price tag, revolves around the remaining claims in the lawsuit, which include allegations of conspiracy, insurance fraud, and falsifying business records. Trump, who is currently leading in the polls for the 2024 Republican nomination, continues to deny any wrongdoing.
Although Trump is not scheduled to testify until later in the trial, he attended the first three days of proceedings last week and returned on Tuesday to observe as an outside appraiser and an employee testified against him. Outside the courtroom, he also took the opportunity to criticize Attorney General James in front of news cameras.
Trump’s demeanor inside the courtroom did not go unnoticed on social media. Ron Filipkowski, the editor-in-chief of Meidas Touch, a liberal outlet, shared a brief clip of Trump in court, along with the observation that he didn’t appear pleased to be there. This clip has garnered over half a million views. Another clip of Trump in court with a despondent expression was aired on Fox News and shared by journalist Aaron Rupar, amassing more than 145,000 views.
Outside the courtroom, Trump expressed his discontent with the case, asserting that his assets had been undervalued. He criticized the legal system as “corrupt” and characterized Attorney General James as a “radical lunatic.” He also expressed concern about his family’s involvement in the case.
Attorney General James responded by stating, “He may lie, but numbers don’t lie.” She acknowledged Trump’s name-calling and distractions but emphasized that his entire business empire was built on deceit and unstable foundations.
Following Judge Engoron’s ruling on the primary claim of the lawsuit, Trump’s business licenses were revoked, and a court-appointed receiver assumed control of his companies, a measure legal experts dubbed a “corporate death penalty.” Although an appeals court rejected Trump’s attempt to halt the trial, it allowed him to retain control of his business holdings for the time being.
In addition to this legal battle, Trump is facing 91 felony counts across four separate criminal cases in Washington, D.C., New York, Florida, and Georgia, all of which he vehemently denies.
WATCH:
He didn’t look too happy to be in court today. pic.twitter.com/w0Hv66h1NO
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) October 17, 2023