NEW YORK (AFP) – Donald Trump rose to political power touting the business acumen he says made him a fortune.
Today, the 77-year-old once and potentially future president is expected to take the stand at a civil trial in which he stands accused of fraudulently inflating those famous assets to advance his real estate empire.
Trump’s son Eric said he is very fired up ahead of his testimony – due to begin at 10am (1500 GMT) – before New York judge Arthur Engoron, with whom the Republican has had a fractious relationship since the trial opened last month. Just as he has insulted the judges overseeing his four criminal trials, Trump has called ‘Engoron unhinged’ and a ‘Trump-hating, radical left, Democrat operative’.
Engoron has responded by slapping Trump with two fines – one for USD5,000, another for USD10,000 – when he ruled the onetime reality television star had violated a partial gag order imposed after he bashed the judge’s clerk on social media.
Trump has been heard twice in connection with this case – on August 10, 2022 and again on April 13 of this year.
