An accounting guru defending Donald Trump in the ongoing $250 million fraud trial is making headlines not just for his testimony but also for the eye-watering fees he’s racking up.
According to The Guardian’s report on Saturday, December 9, NYU Stern School of Business professor Eli Bartov, the accounting expert in question, has pocketed nearly $900,000 for his services.
Bartov’s crucial Thursday testimony asserted that a review of the financial statements showed “no evidence of concealment,” aligning with Trump’s defense against fraud allegations.
However, the spotlight shifted when Bartov faced questions about his compensation during Friday’s proceedings. In a July deposition, he revealed a rate of $1,350 per hour, totaling 650 hours and $877,500 for his work.
This financial disclosure added intrigue to the trial, especially when compared to the $350,000 reportedly paid to the prosecution’s expert witness, Michiel McCarty.
Under questioning, Bartov disclosed that Trump’s Organization and his political action committee, Save America, footed the bill for his testimony. This raised concerns about the independence and objectivity of expert witnesses in legal matters.
Trump and his associates face charges of inflating asset values for better loans, vehemently denying wrongdoing. Bartov’s testimony, aligning with Trump’s defense, gained attention as the former president praised him for finding absolutely no fraud, accounting fraud of any kind.
As the legal drama unfolds, Trump is set to testify again on Monday, and Bartov will return to the stand on Tuesday, continuing to be a central figure in a case that blends financial misconduct allegations, high-stakes legal battles, and the intricacies of expert testimony, captivating public interest.
