In a New York civil fraud trial, Trump argues with the court and insists he did nothing wrong

 In a New York civil fraud trial, Trump argues with the court and insists he did nothing wrong

The judge requested that Trump refrain from using the courtroom as a "political rally."

On Monday, the former president Donald Trump went on the witness stand in his civil fraud trial in New York.

In order to get better terms on loans and insurance, the $250 million lawsuit claims that Trump, ten of his businesses, and his co-defendants—including his sons, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr.—inflated the worth of assets in financial statements.

Similar to what his sons said during their testimony last week, Trump denied having any direct participation in the preparation of the financial statements, according to The Associated Press.

"All I did was grant permission and instruct individuals to provide the necessary funds so the accountants could complete the statements," he added. "I would observe them and examine them, and perhaps on certain occasions, I would offer some recommendations."

In addition to refuting any misconduct, Trump attacked Attorney General Letitia James and Judge Arthur Engoron, who initiated the lawsuit.

On the witness stand, Trump said, "It's an abomination that a case like this is going on; all you have to do is read the writings of legal scholars — the papers — and you'll know." "A geopolitical witch hunt is what this is."

According to CNN, Trump said that James was unaware of "how good a company" he had established and that her office was attempting to "hurt" and "demean" him.

James wants to make it illegal for Trump to do business in the state of New York, which would finally compel him to give up his valuable real estate. This would include giving up ownership of properties that include golf courses, suburban real estate, 40 Wall Street, and the Trump Tower.

Raising his voice and gesturing to the court, Trump remarked of Engoron, "He called me a fraud and he didn't know anything about me."

He was alluding to the pre-trial ruling made by Engoron, which determined that the Trump business and its leaders were accountable for deception.

"I believe the decision to be fraudulent," Trump said. "I am not the fraud; the court is."

Trump was hit with two $10,000 fines in October for breaking an order of gag issued by Engoron. He surprised "even his own lawyers and his Secret Service agents, who went scurrying after him," according to NBC News, as he stormed out of the courthouse after getting the second sentence.

Engoron was impatient with Trump throughout his hearing because of his lengthy responses that did not address the questions. He requested that Trump abstain from using the courtroom as "a political rally" and that Trump's attorneys exercise control over their client.

The responses are repetitious in addition to being unresponsive. There isn't much time left. We only have one day with this testimony," MSNBC reporter Kyle Griffin said on X, now known as Twitter, when Engoron spoke.

The former president persisted in emphasizing that Engoron was pursuing him in the meanwhile.

At one point, Trump reportedly added, "I'm sure the judge will rule against me, because he always rules against me," according to CNN.

During the midday break, Alina Habba, one of his lawyers, told reporters that the judge had "predetermined" the trial's result and was uninterested in the former president's comments.

When the hearings end in late December, Engoron will make the final decision about the trial's result.

Trump was questioned over a number of assets, including the Trump International Gold Links in Aberdeen, Scotland, which Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, and the 40 Wall Street property in Manhattan.

Trump spoke to his Aberdeen property as "one of the greatest pieces of land" he had ever seen when asked to address the disparity over the number of homes that might be erected there. However, Engoron cut him off, saying, "Irrelevant, irrelevant."

Trump responded incoherently, stating, "It's kind of like a painting." You have a lot of freedom to do as you like. You are free to use the property whatever you choose, according to MSNBC News.

Additionally, he said that the banks didn't think the estimations of his properties that were utilized in the interrogation were significant.

Trump said, "You've made it important, but it wasn't."

Ivanka Trump, his daughter, is scheduled to testify on Wednesday.