He announced the new move on social media on Dec. 10.
Former President Donald Trump said on Dec. 10 that he’ll no longer take the witness stand in the bench trial for a civil fraud case against him in New York.
“As everyone knows, I have very successfully and conclusively testified in the corrupt, Biden-directed New York State Attorney General’s rigged trial against me,” he wrote on the Truth Social platform. “World-renowned experts, highly respected bank and insurance executives, real estate professionals, as well as others, both honest and credible, have stated, clear and unequivocally, that I, and my very successful company, did nothing wrong!
“Financial statements were conservative, liquid, and ‘extraordinary.’ The only fraud committed was by the highly partisan and out-of-control judge and racist AG.”
Last year, New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit against President Trump and other Trump Organization executives on seven claims related to fraud.
Since Nov. 13, the defense has been presenting its case, relying heavily on outside experts to refute the accusation of fraud, despite the fact that New York Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron had already issued a pretrial ruling finding President Trump liable for fraud. The trial is meant to deal with the penalties that he’ll need to pay, as well as the state’s attorneys proving intent and materiality.
President Trump was meant to testify again on Dec. 11, closing out the defense. Instead, the last expert witness in the case, New York University accounting professor Eli Bartov, will continue to testify through Dec. 12.
“I have already testified to everything and have nothing more to say other than that this is a complete and total election interference (Biden Campaign!) witch hunt, that will do nothing but keep businesses out of New York, I will not be testifying on Monday,” the former president wrote.
Defense attorneys are expected to be mounting appeal efforts. An appellate court has already paused one of the penalties issued by Justice Engoron pending appeal—the dissolution of The Trump Organization—and the Trump legal team has begun an Article 78 proceeding accusing the judge of unlawful behavior.
By Catherine Yang
