Donald Trump Jr. To Step Up As First Defense Witness In Ongoing New York Fraud Trial

The ongoing civil fraud trial against the NY Trump Organization is set to see Donald Trump Jr. take the stand as the defense’s first witness, as announced by the Trump family’s legal team.

What Happened: The defense is slated to begin its case on Monday, following the conclusion of the prosecution led by the New York attorney general’s office, as detailed by CNN. Judge Arthur Engoron has allowed the Trump team to present all of their witnesses, expressing his intention to avoid a retrial or reversal of the case.

Despite pending rulings on the defense’s motion to dismiss the remaining six claims in the case, the judge has urged the parties to prepare for the proceedings on Monday.

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The case’s unresolved allegations revolve around falsifying business records, issuing false financial statements, insurance fraud, and conspiracy to commit the alleged frauds. The defense may recall Eric Trump and the former president, as well as the bankers implicated in the loans alleged to have been issued based on fraudulent financial statements.

Why It Matters: This trial follows Trump Jr.’s previous testimonies, where he shifted blame onto the accountants, claiming he didn’t understand the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

Furthermore, both Trump Jr. and his brother Eric Trump have testified as witnesses and co-defendants in the case, attempting to deflect blame to accountants for any alleged fraudulent activities.

Trump Jr.’s defense tactics, particularly his repeated claims of “I don’t recall” and attempts to blame accountants, have been criticized by former acting Solicitor General, Neal Katyal. As the trial continues, the spotlight remains on Trump Jr. as he prepares to defend his family and their company.

Photo by Gage Skidmore on Flickr.

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