Eric Trump 'Negotiated' Severance For Former CFO, All Eyes Turn To Donald Trump On Witness Stand Next Week

Donald Trump's son Eric Trump was back on the witness stand Friday to answer questions in a civil fraud trial.

Both he and his older brother, Donald Trump Jr., testified this week as co-defendants. Here's a look at what was said in court and what's next.

What Happened: On Friday, Eric Trump continued his testimony, which began on Thursday. Donald Trump Jr. testified on Wednesday and Thursday.

Before Eric Trump took the stand, there was a war of words between Trump's lawyers and Judge Arthur Engoron. The dispute came from Trump's lawyer, Chris Kise, who made a comment about the judge and his clerk having dinner together.

Engoron told Trump's lawyers Friday that his professional relationship with the clerk is not unlawful and shouldn't keep being a topic of debate in the court.

"I have the absolute right to get advice from my law clerk. I am not showing bias," Engoron said.

Kise said the judge was entitled to receive advice, but a record would be made when there is a bias. Kise claims that both Engoron and the clerk have made political donations to Democrats, suggesting an unfair ruling.

Once Eric Trump took the stand for a second day, he displayed a lack of recollection regarding several events.

"I don't recall a specific call," Trump said of a 2021 video call in question. "I have thousands of calls a day."

The prosecution inquired about a 2013 email about Eric Trumo’s joining a call that was related to his father's financial statements.  

Prosecutors also asked Eric Trump about the former Trump Organization CFO, Allen Weisselberg, and the $2 million severance agreement.

"I was the person who did this, signed this,” Eric Trump said. “I negotiated."

His father did not sign off on the deal, he claims.

When asked about the agreement keeping Weisselberg from cooperating against the Trump Organization except for "acts of testimony," Eric Trump said the agreement had "pretty boilerplate language."

After Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration on Jan. 20, 2017, Weisselberg, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. were put in charge of the Trump Organization. Weisselberg was removed years later after being indicted on tax fraud charges.

Eric Trump was not cross-examined by the defense on Friday. Both he and Donald Trump Jr. could be called back as witnesses for the defense later in the case.

Friday's trial ended with another heated exchange between Kise and Engoron.

"I don't want any further comments about my staff," Engoron said.

Outside the courtroom, Eric Trump echoed comments made by other members of his family that the case is a "witch hunt" and said that the older Trump children are "collateral damage."

"What New York state's trying to do with my father is truly awful. I haven't seen anything like it," he told reporters.

Donald Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social, which could become a part of the publicly traded Digital World Acquisition Corporation DWAC via SPAC merger, to voice his frustration.

"Our country is under the highest level of threat ever, and yet all the DOJ & FBI want to do is go after Donald Trump and his family. Sad!!!" the post read.

Trump also said that the case is "election interference" in another Truth Social post.

What's Next: After testimony from Donald Trump’s eldest sons, Monday's trial could be even more eventful with the former president expected to take the witness stand.

"I know he's very fired up to be here and he thinks this is one of the most incredible injustices he's ever seen, and it truly is," Eric Trump said of his father.

Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump is also expected to testify next week with a tentative date of Nov. 8, but she is actively trying to get out of testifying.

New York Attorney General Letitia James is seeking $250 million in penalties against Trump and his businesses and a ban on the former president being able to conduct business in the state of New York in the future.

The civil fraud trial could last until Dec. 22, 2023, according to a previous statement by the judge.