Donald Trump has announced his intention to appear in a New York court on Monday to commence a civil fraud trial, during which the former president will confront what he has described as an “unjust” allegation of artificially inflating the worth of his properties and assets.
In a message posted on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, Trump declared, “I’m going to Court tomorrow morning to defend my reputation and name.” He used his post to strongly criticize New York state Attorney General Letitia James and the presiding judge, whom Trump labeled as “biased, erratic, and aggressively pursuing me.”
In a ruling issued last week, New York state Judge Arthur Engoron determined that Trump and his family business had artificially inflated the value of his properties and other assets to align with their business interests. Trump and the other defendants, however, have consistently asserted their innocence, denying any fraudulent activities.
Trump went on to assert, “He [the judge] assesses the value of Mar-a-Lago, located in Palm Beach, Florida, at $18 million when it is actually worth 50 to 100 times that amount. These valuations are fraudulent and are motivated by the desire to influence elections and more. This entire case is a farce! I’ll see you in court on Monday,” referencing both the judge and the trial.
The lawsuit was filed against Trump in September 2022 by State Attorney General James, who accused him, his adult sons, the Trump Organization, and others of engaging in what she referred to as “massive fraud” in their valuation of properties. James is seeking penalties of at least $250 million, a prohibition on Trump and his sons, Donald Jr and Eric, from managing businesses in New York, and a five-year ban on commercial real estate dealings involving Trump and the Trump Organization.
It is important to note that this case is distinct from the four criminal indictments pending against Trump, which include charges related to attempts to overturn the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.
Source: Reuters
