Former President Donald Trump, through a statement on Truth Social, declared that he would not be testifying again in his New York fraud trial, just as the proceedings were nearing a conclusion. This unexpected decision diverged from earlier expectations that Trump would face questioning from his own defense team.
Trump justified his reversal by asserting that his initial testimony, provided last month under the scrutiny of the New York attorney general’s office, was both successful and conclusive. He contended that there was nothing more to add to his previous statements, as reported by The Hill on Sunday, December 10.
The former president’s initial appearance on the witness stand came as a response to a judge’s claim that he had violated a gag order. Trump, in a post on Truth Social, criticized the trial, labeling it a “complete & total election interference (Biden campaign!) witch hunt.”
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Chris Kise, one of Trump’s lawyers, supported the decision, emphasizing that the former president had already testified comprehensively. Kise further criticized the judge’s imposition of what he deemed an unconstitutional gag order, restricting Trump’s ability to discuss the trial’s overseers.
Throughout the trial, Trump consistently denounced it as politically motivated, accusing President Biden of orchestrating the case, despite its initiation by New York state officials. He also targeted individuals involved in the trial, including the presiding judge and his principal clerk, alleging bias and political motivation.
The New York Attorney General, Letitia James, filed a $250 million lawsuit, alleging a decade of fraud by Trump, the Trump Organization, and Trump’s two adult sons. The lawsuit contends that they manipulated the organization’s asset values to secure lower taxes and improved insurance coverage. Trump and his sons vehemently deny these allegations.
Despite Trump’s decision not to testify again, James insisted that they had already proven financial fraud, citing a judge’s previous ruling that found the Trump Organization and its executives liable. She maintained that the facts supported their case, regardless of Trump’s testimony.
Trump’s testimony was expected to provide a final defense against claims of a decade-long fraud by his business. In a prior appearance on the stand, he defended his business practices and downplayed the significance of key financial documents central to the trial.
Notably, Trump’s adult sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, testified for prosecutors last month, distancing themselves from the Trump Organization’s financial statements. Eric Trump’s defense testimony was canceled, with lawyers asserting it was unnecessary after Deutsche Bank representatives and experts testified in favor of the defense.
The defense began presenting its case in mid-November, calling several witnesses. Still, New York Attorney General James argued that their testimony inadvertently supported her case, citing an expert witness who admitted discrepancies in property valuations and another who claimed Trump personally sought assistance at his Mar-a-Lago club, alleging a conflict of interest.
As the trial progresses, the central question looms: Will Trump’s decision not to testify adversely impact his defense against the allegations of financial fraud? The trial’s conclusion on Tuesday is eagerly awaited, with both sides preparing for their final arguments in this high-stakes legal battle.
