Donald Trump is making a major move in defense of some of the crown jewels of his real estate empire.
Attorneys for the former American president told a New York courtroom on Monday that they plan to call Trump to the stand on Dec. 11th as the last witness in the New York civil fraud trial, according to CNN.
Trump attorney Chris Kise said that Trump’s son, Eric, also a defendant, will take the stand on January 6th.
Trump is facing massive court action from New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, who leveled a $250 million civil lawsuit against the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
If convicted, Trump could be barred from doing business in New York and forfeit numerous properties, including his prestigious golf courses, in his renowned real estate portfolio.
A Trump Organization executive told the court Monday that the company no longer compiles the personal financial statement for Trump because they are not required by lenders.
“It is not prepared to my knowledge,” Mark Hawthorn said. “There is not a roll up financial statement of the company.”
According to CNN, trial evidence has shown the Trump Organization “contracted an accounting firm to compile a statement of financial condition for Donald Trump at least until 2021.”
Trump, like all Americans, is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
[CNN]
