Donald Trump to Testify in Civil Fraud Trial: What to Expect

Donald Trump is set to testify in a civil fraud trial concerning a lawsuit filed by New York Attorney General Tish James. The lawsuit alleges that Trump, his adult sons, and business associates orchestrated corporate fraud by inflating his net worth to secure favorable terms from banks and insurers. Justice Arthur Engoron, the presiding judge, ruled that Trump and the defendants are liable for fraud related to the financial documents, with the trial now focusing on potential monetary penalties.

Here are six things to watch for during Trump’s testimony:

1. Questions Trump Will Face: Trump will likely face questions about his involvement with the financial documents and whether he directed individuals to inflate his net worth. He may also be asked about the Trump Organization’s reporting structure and intent regarding the allegedly fraudulent documents.
2. Campaign Stump: Trump has used court proceedings as an extension of his campaign trail, making statements to the media before and after court sessions. The judge may direct him to stick to responsive answers, but he may deviate and provide political commentary.
3. Right Against Self-Incrimination: Trump can invoke his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, although it carries a risk in a civil trial. The judge may draw an “adverse inference” if Trump pleads the Fifth, assuming that his answer would be contrary to his interests.
4. Impact on Other Cases: There is overlap between the civil fraud case and Trump’s pending criminal case in New York, which accuses him of falsifying business records in connection with hush money payments. Statements about the Trump Organization and Michael Cohen may be relevant to the criminal case.
5. Blame on Adult Sons: Trump might implicitly blame his adult sons, who were put in charge of the family business after he became president. Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump testified last week, shifting responsibility for financial documents to accountants and denying involvement or knowledge.
6. Judge and Law Clerk Criticism: Trump has previously criticized Judge Engoron, both in and out of court. While he is expected to stick to responsive answers in court, he may still express opinions. The judge has exempted himself from the gag order, and Trump could potentially criticize the judge’s law clerk, Allison Greenfield.

Donald Trump’s testimony in the civil fraud trial is a significant development, and it remains to be seen how his responses may impact the ongoing legal proceedings.