U.S. News
Trump to judge: “leave my children alone” ahead of fraud trial testimony
By Jake Beardslee · November 1, 2023
In brief…
- Donald Trump Jr. arrived to testify in fraud trial against Trump family
- Former President Trump posted videos attacking the "rigged" trial and judge
- Trump was previously fined for attacking the judge's clerk on social media
- Eric Trump will testify Thursday; Trump and Ivanka may testify next week
The civil fraud trial against former President Donald Trump, his adult sons Donald Jr. and Eric, and the Trump Organization continued this week in New York State Supreme Court. On Wednesday, Donald Trump Jr. arrived to testify in his own defense against allegations by New York Attorney General Letitia James that the Trumps engaged in decades of financial fraud by inflating asset values to gain better loan and insurance terms.
The former president urged the judge presiding over the $250 million case to “leave my children alone” in a 2:30 a.m. Truth Social post prior to his son’s scheduled testimony. Trump called the trial a “rigged hoax” and maintained his innocence, stating “I did not tell [Michael Cohen] to inflate values on my financial statements.” Earlier in the trial, Trump was fined $10,000 for attacking the judge’s clerk on social media.
According to The New York Post, Donald Trump Jr. is the first family member expected to testify for the defense, with his brother Eric to follow on Thursday. The former president himself may take the stand next week, as well as his daughter Ivanka. They aim to counter allegations that the Trump Organization falsified financial statements to make Trump seem far wealthier than he actually was.
The state has argued that the alleged fraud cost lenders $300 million in losses. An expert witness called by the AG’s office testified that inflated assets netted Trump $168 million in savings on lower interest rates from banks.