Shaken Donald Trump Calls New York Trial ‘Horror Show’
Former President Donald Trump is back in New York on Monday. But this time, he’s not back on his old
Tristan Green
Former President Donald Trump is back in New York on Monday. But this time, he’s not back on his old stomping grounds for a positive reason. This time, he’s here to defend himself.
Trump is facing down a courtroom again, this time as he defends against a civil lawsuit from the New York Attorney General’s office. The rattled former President stood up before the cameras upon arriving at the courthouse. There, he blasted the judicial process, calling the officials suing him and the Trump Organization a “horror show.”
Trump Faces Lawsuit Which Could End His Business Power In New York
Former President Donald Trump is facing a multi-front battle in his private life. With three major criminal cases lined up against him, his civil battle may seem the least consequential. And that’s true, from a certain point of view. Yet judges overseeing criminal cases against Trump could hold back when issuing sentences if he is found guilty in any of those cases. The prospect of sentencing a former President to any serious prison time could stay their hands and provide Trump a gentle slap on the wrist compared to what most people would face when charged with the same crimes. If, of course, he is found guilty of any or all of those criminal charges.
Yet the judge overseeing the civil lawsuit against Trump has no such compunctions. After all, this lawsuit is unrelated to his actions as President. So Trump could face the steepest consequences available in the civil lawsuit. Those consequences could potentially include Trump and his organization losing the ability to conduct business in New York.
Pre-Trial Ruling Doesn’t Go Well For Trump
“The judge has said this is a matter of such urgency that these LLCs need to stop operating right now,” putting Trump at risk of losing control of his business, says @CornellLaw prof. Celia Bigoness in an interview with @washingtonpost reporter @jocwapo https://t.co/6lYoRtmfiU
— Damien Sharp (@Damien__Sharp) October 2, 2023
Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, Eric Trump, several executives, and the Trump Organization itself were sued by Attorney General Letitia James. In September 2022, James’ office accused Trump and his organization of perpetrating “years” of fraud and “vastly overrepresenting” the wealth of Trump and his company in order to secure more favorable financial interactions with banks and other businesses. Ivanka has since been cleared of involvement, and her name was dismissed from the suit.
And Judge Arthur Engoron, overseeing the case, has already made a pretrial ruling which raised some eyebrows. The judge wrote that he was not impressed with the “defendants’ obstreperous conduct” and “their continued reliance on bogus arguments.” Engoron added that some of their arguments were pulled from “a fantasy world, not the real world.” His ruling also says that he did find that Trump and the business defrauded banks, insurers, and consumers. They did this by “massively inflating” his company’s net worth and assets. These exaggerations appeared in docs used to secure loans and make deals. As a result, the Trump Org secured more favorable payback terms and interest rates than they were entitled to. The judge ruled that these behaviors went beyond braggadocio and violated the law.
Donald Trump Arrives For New York Trial: A ‘Horror Show’
On Monday morning, Donald Trump arrived at the New York courthouse as the trial kicked off. In a press conference he shared to Truth Social, Trump blasted both “racist” Letitia James and “rogue judge” Engoron. He called it a continuation of the “single greatest witch hunt of all time.” And Trump called James a “horror show” who is hellbent on plans to “get Trump.”
The business mogul blasted the trial as a “scam” and a “sham.” And he claims that his “actual net worth” is significantly greater than he claimed on paper. Then Trump went on to claim that the disclaimer included in his business dealings absolves him from any misconceptions about his net worth, intentional or otherwise. He quoted the disclaimer as “essentially” saying, “Buyer beware.” “It says, ‘When you take a look at the financial statement, don’t believe anything you read.’ This isupfrontt. ‘Don’t believe anything you read.'”
The former President says that his enemies are coming for him now because he is leading in the 2024 Presidential race. He explained, “This has to do with election interference, plain and simple. They’re trying to damage me so I don’t do as well as I’m doing now.” He then said the country has “gone to hell” and blasted President Joe Biden’s administrative record, calling it a “disgrace.” During Trump’s speech, a furor seemed to erupt off-camera, but it was quickly quieted and no more mention was made of it.
The former POTUS shared his press conference to Truth, writing, “JUST ARRIVED AT THE COURTHOUSE TO FIGHT A CORRUPT & RACIST ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND A ROGUE, OUT OF CONTROL, TRUMP HATING JUDGE, WHO REFUSES TO FOLLOW THE APPELLATE COURT DECISION WHICH KNOKS OUT 80% OF THIS SHAM CASE.”
James Seeks Major Remedies
New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office is seeking $250 million and multiple sanctions that could end the Trump Organization‘s business dealings in New York. The trial begins today, Monday, October 2. Engoron has blocked off three months for the trial’s duration. However, it could be a much shorter trial given the judge’s pre-trial ruling.
Donald Trump has always considered New York to be his home. But his old home turf seems much more hostile than it used to be.