- Donald Trump delivered closing remarks in his civil trial, accusing the judge attorney general of a political agenda in the case.
- The stakes are high for Trump, with New York Attorney General Letitia James seeking $370 million and the end of Trump doing business in the state.
- Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron has already ruled Trump liable for fraud, but held the trial to determine damages. He expects to rule by the end of the month.
NEW YORK — The day began with a bomb scare, peaked with a Donald Trump rant, and included a scolding from the judge. “Control your client,” an exasperated state Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron admonished at one point in the closing arguments.
The former president insisted Thursday in the final hours of his New York fraud trial that the case was politically motivated and brought for publicity, drawing the curtain on proceedings that could bar him from running a business in the state and cost him hundreds of millions of dollars.
Trump, who was alleged to have exaggerated his personal wealth and real estate property values, called the case “a political witch hunt” against an innocent man.
“This is partially election interference, but in particular the person in the room right now hates Trump,” he said, referring to New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought the case.
Trump’s comments came after Engoron, who earlier said Trump couldn’t give closing arguments after failing to agree to stick to the facts and law of the case,…
