Former President Donald Trump reentered the spotlight at his $250 million civil fraud trial in Manhattan, making waves as New York Attorney General Letitia James remained conspicuously absent from her usual front-row seat.
Newsweek reported this surprising twist on Thursday, December 7, 2023, noting that James, a regular presence at the trial, was a notable departure from the norm. A spokesperson from the attorney general’s office confirmed to Newsweek that James would not be present, raising speculation about the dynamics at play in this high-profile case.
This development followed the withdrawal of Trump’s son, Eric Trump, from testifying as one of the final witnesses. Trump addressed this decision on Tuesday, emphasizing that Eric had already testified perfectly and that he had advised his son not to take the stand.
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Despite Eric’s absence from the witness stand, he accompanied his father to court on Thursday. As Trump returned to the trial, he took to Truth Social, his preferred platform, to express his sentiments, characterizing the proceedings as a Witch Hunt.
In response to Trump’s social media comments, Letitia James issued her own statement, asserting that Trump engaged in years of financial fraud, emphasizing the strength of the case presented by her office.
The trial’s first day witnessed tension as Trump locked eyes with James, glaring angrily as he passed by. Subsequently, Trump avoided direct visual contact with James for the rest of the day. This incident followed a previous accusation by Trump that James was smirking all day long from her seat in court.
Looking ahead, Donald Trump is set to testify on Monday as the defense’s final witness, adding to the trial’s already confrontational dynamics. Despite the legal challenges, Trump framed his trial appearances in a political context, suggesting that Democrats prefer to have him in court than on the campaign trail in Iowa.
In a recent email to supporters, Trump emphasized the political impact of his legal battles, stating, Every time voters see me show up at a courthouse or a jail, whether it’s for a sham arrest, a trial, or even a mugshot, they are reminded just how corrupt our government has become, and how desperately we need a new president in the White House.
