Trump Jr distances himself from documents at center of fraud trial: ‘I don’t recall’
Donald Trump Jr appeared in court during the ongoing trial regarding his father and their family business's alleged fraud. He wanted to make it clear that he wasn't closely involved with the financial documents at the center of the case.
Trump Jr, who is the oldest son of Donald Trump, is the first family member to testify in the trial brought by the New York attorney general, Letitia James. His younger brother Eric will testify tomorrow, and Trump himself, along with his daughter Ivanka, will testify next week.
During the court session, Trump Jr was polite and even cracked a joke about wearing makeup for photos before his testimony. He talked pretty fast, but he apologized and mentioned that he had adapted to the fast-paced lifestyle of New York.
They asked Trump Jr about his role and his father's role as trustees of the Donald J Trump Revocable Trust, which holds assets for the benefit of the former president. When questioned if his father was still a trustee, he said he didn't remember. He couldn't recall many details, like why he briefly resigned and then returned to the trust in 2021.
He claimed he had some freedom but consulted with others. When asked about creating the financial statements in question, he said the accountants were responsible.
Trump Jr had been more confrontational earlier in the week, making strong statements on a TV channel. He said that some people in the media and Washington wanted to put his father in jail for a very long time. He found these claims sick and believed they were the reason for their fight.
The New York attorney general, Letitia James, has accused Trump and his sons, along with other executives, of inflating the former president's wealth to get better loans from banks. For example, Trump allegedly claimed his Trump Tower apartment was much bigger than it really is.
The judge, Arthur Engoron, has already ruled that the Trumps committed fraud. The trial is ongoing to determine the appropriate penalty. James has requested $250 million in damages and the cancellation of Trump's business licenses in New York, which would prevent the Trumps from running businesses in the state.
One of the attorney general's witnesses, Michiel McCarty, who is the CEO of an investment bank, explained that banks suffered losses due to Trump's alleged fraud. The exaggerated wealth figures helped the Trump organization secure better loan rates, causing banks to lose over $168 million in interest payments. However, Trump's lawyers argued that the banks weren't misled because they hadn't testified otherwise.
Donald Trump has denied any wrongdoing and wasn't present in court. He voiced his displeasure with the trial on social media, especially regarding his children's involvement, calling the judge a disgrace to the legal profession. We kindly request you to disseminate this news and provide your insights in the comments section. Thank you
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