The former president has been found liable for fraud and could lose his flagship buildings.
Day 1 Concludes–4:30 p.m.
The first day of the civil case against President Trump concluded around 4:30 p.m.
During President Trump’s remarks at lunch, he signaled he may be attending other days as well.
Accountant Testifies–4 p.m.
Donald Bender, former Mazars accountant who prepared tax documents and did accounting for Trump Organization, said the numbers and standards he used were largely set by Trump Organization executives, according to media reports.
“That was the Trump Organization’s responsibility,” he said. He said the annual statements contained a warning to recipients that he did not independently verify the figures.
He said about half his time was spent on Trump Organization and spent a lot of time at Trump Towers offices.
First Witness Sworn In–3 p.m.
Donald Bender, former partner at international audit, tax and advisory firm Mazars’s USA brach, was sworn in as the first witness from the prosecution’s side, according to media reports.
From 2009 to 2018, Mr. Bender prepared President Trump’s personal tax returns, and reported losses every year. The losses were huge, he had said, totaling $1 billion in just a period of two years. Mazars stopped working with Trump Organization in February 2022.
Last year, Mr. Bender testified in court during a criminal case against two companies under the Trump Organization umbrella , accusing its top executives with avoiding income taxes. President Trump was not charged in the case and did not testify or attend the jury trial.
In the criminal case, Mr. Bender had accepted a plea bargain, testifying before a grand jury in exchange for immunity.
On Monday, he testified that from 2011 to 2021, the period in question in the fraud case, he did accounting for Trump Organization.
Trump Blasts Judge, Speaks to Press–1:30 p.m.
President Trump had not attended his other civil trial and did not speak to reporters in previous arraignments.
Asked why he has come to attend day one of his trial, he said, “Because I want to watch this witch hunt myself. I’ve been on their witch hunt for years, but this is now really getting dirty.”
During the lunch break, he made another speech, holding up an article by The Sun that quoted Florida real estate professionals saying county assessor data is not the same as valuation.
He also blasted the judge for not taking into account a June appeals court decision.
By Petr Svab and Catherine Yang
