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The former American president announced on Sunday evening that he would participate in the start of the trial “to fight for my name and for my reputation”.
New York State Attorney General Letitia James expressed confidence on Monday that she would be successful in court against the presidential candidate. “Justice will prevail,” she said outside the courthouse. “My message is simple: no matter how powerful someone is, no matter how much money they think they have, no one is above the law.”
The verdict was handed down before the trial even began
James accuses Trump of inflating the assets of his real estate empire over the years to get better terms on loans and insurance. Last week, the attorney general won an important legal victory: the judge responsible, Arthur Engoron, ruled before the trial began that Trump had overestimated his assets and had therefore committed “fraud.”
The civil trial that is now starting is mainly about the question of how high the sentence against Trump will be. Trump is not threatened with prison time, nor will this affect his bid for the presidency.
James is seeking a fine of $250 million (229 million Swiss francs) against Trump and his family holding company. She also wants the ex-president and his two eldest sons, Donald Trump Junior and Eric Trump, to be banned from running businesses in the state. It’s unclear whether he would also have to give up properties like his famous Trump Tower on 5th Avenue if convicted.
Trump calls James ‘a racist’
James sued Trump and his family in September 2022. The ex-president, who wants to regain the White House in 2024, rejects the accusations, describing them as politically motivated.
Trump used the attention before the start of the trial for a message reminiscent of a campaign appearance: “This is the continuation of the greatest witch hunt of all time,” he said, referring to a series of accusations against him. The charges are untenable, the judge is a bad guy and the black prosecutor James is a “racist” who “wanted to get Trump before she knew anything about me.” (male/AFP)
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
