Dramatic turn of events, former President Donald Trump finds his business empire hanging in the balance as the fraud trial, initiated in September, nears its conclusion. The trial, marked by a scathing dissolution order against much of the Trump Organization, left the ex-President outraged at the judge’s stern stance on his history of fraudulent net-worth statements.
Fast forward three months, and the outlook remains grim for Trump and his expansive golf-resort and real-estate holdings. New York Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron, presiding over the case, appears increasingly convinced of Trump’s involvement in fraud after 10-and-a-half weeks of compelling testimony. Engoron’s recent mid-December decision described the evidence presented by the state attorney general as “voluminous,” emphasizing the weight of the accusations.
In a biting commentary on Trump’s defense, Engoron remarked on the exorbitant fees paid to the accounting witness, stating, “For a million or so dollars, some experts will say whatever you want them to say.”
With only closing briefs and arguments remaining before the judge delivers his verdict, the question looms: will Engoron deal a fatal blow, cripple, or merely sting Trump’s business empire? Experts consulted by Business Insider tend to lean towards the grimmest scenario, with Diana Florence, a seasoned financial-crimes prosecutor, stating, “The judge has already declared the corporate death penalty.” The fate of Trump’s business empire will be unveiled sometime before the end of January.
