Former President Donald Trump abruptly left the courtroom on Wednesday during the New York civil fraud trial involving the Trump Organization, following the testimony of his former attorney, Michael Cohen. Witnesses reported that Trump’s Secret Service agents hurriedly chased after him, taken by surprise at his sudden departure.
Trump’s exit followed Cohen’s admission that Trump had never instructed him to inflate financial statements. Outside the courtroom, Trump declared to reporters, “The witness just admitted that we won the trial. And the judge should end this trial immediately,” before walking away.
One of Trump’s attorneys subsequently asked Judge Arthur Engoron to deliver a verdict in the trial. Engoron firmly replied, “Absolutely denied,” pointing to substantial evidence supporting the New York attorney general’s $250 million lawsuit against Trump, three of his adult children, and the Trump Organization.
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Earlier in the trial, Engoron imposed a $10,000 fine on Trump for violating a gag order that prohibited him from discussing the judge’s staff. Trump had accused the judge and his clerk of partisanship, a claim Engoron refuted in court. When questioned, Trump insisted he was referring to Cohen, who was sitting on the other side of Engoron in the witness box.
Despite Trump’s protests, Engoron upheld the fine, ruling, “I hereby fine you $10,000 ― which is on the liberal side ― to be paid within 30 days.”
Trump took to Truth Social, his preferred social media platform, to criticize Cohen once again. He wrote, “He was totally discredited, like a Perry Mason moment. The A.G. Witch Hunt should be dropped, immediately! FoxNews coverage was so inaccurate. Sad!”
As the trial enters its fourth week, the courtroom drama continues to unfold, drawing national attention and raising questions about the future implications for Trump and his business empire.
