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Donald J. Trump started his testimony Monday earlier than a packed Manhattan courtroom, stuffed with onlookers. That they had come to witness the spectacle of a former U.S. president taking the witness stand at trial to defend his household enterprise and his fame as an actual property mogul.
Earlier than the civil trial even started, the choose within the case, Justice Arthur Engoron, dominated that Mr. Trump had fraudulently misvalued his properties for years and revoked his licenses to function these in New York — a ruling that has been appealed.
The trial, which is in its sixth week, will decide how way more Mr. Trump needs to be penalized. New York’s lawyer common is asking that the choose impose a $250 million penalty, and that the previous president be completely barred from operating a enterprise within the state.
Mr. Trump’s attorneys have argued that his annual monetary statements have been merely estimates, and that differing valuations have been normal in the actual property enterprise.
Here’s a nearer take a look at the scene contained in the courtroom by means of {a photograph} taken Monday simply earlier than Mr. Trump took the stand.
Donald J. Trump
Because the trial started on Oct. 2, the previous president has been a frequent spectator, although he’s not required to be current every single day. He sometimes sits on the protection desk when he does present up, between two of his attorneys, Alina Habba and Christopher M. Kise. On Monday, he moved from his standard spot to the witness stand to testify.
He made a shock look on the stand final month, when Justice Engoron questioned him for a couple of minutes about feedback he had made to reporters exterior the courtroom. (Afterward, the choose issued a high-quality of $10,000 in opposition to Mr. Trump, discovering that he had violated a gag order barring him from making public statements in regards to the choose’s employees.)
Whereas Monday was the primary time he was testifying about issues on the core of the case, the trial had beforehand unleashed a curler coaster of reactions from Mr. Trump. Earlier within the trial, he had typically rolled his eyes on the choose, or struggled to include his anger, together with through the testimony of his former lawyer and fixer, Michael D. Cohen. At duller factors, he had yawned or appeared bored.
On Monday, Justice Engoron chided Mr. Trump a number of occasions, asking him to maintain his remarks brief. Afterward, Mr. Trump lashed out at each Ms. James and Justice Engoron from the witness stand.
Letitia James
The workplace of Ms. James, New York State’s lawyer common, is bringing the fraud case in opposition to the Trump household and the Trump Group. Ms. James has typically been noticed within the entrance row of the courtroom, particularly on days when the previous president can also be current on the trial. Generally within the mornings earlier than trial begins, she might be seen talking cordially with one in all Mr. Trump’s attorneys, Mr. Kise. On Monday, she informed reporters, “I believe it’s going to be an fascinating day. However numbers and details matter.”
Safety
There are extra safety personnel current on the times when the previous president is within the courtroom. On Monday, courtroom officers slowly patrolled the aisles, with Secret Service brokers and different safety seated on each side of the courtroom.
Different onlookers
On most days of the trial, nearly all of the spectators seated within the benches seem like reporters. As is commonly the case throughout high-profile trials in New York Metropolis, there are often members of the general public and vacationers who’ve come to observe the spectacle. A gaggle of Justice Engoron’s associates are additionally common attendees.
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