Former US President Donald Trump on Monday called his trial for illegal trade practices a politically motivated “witch hunt.”
“This is the continuation of the greatest witch hunt of all time,” Trump said as he voluntarily appeared in court and vowed to defend his reputation in a lawsuit that could cost him control of the Trump Tower building and other valuable properties.
“This is a coup. It is a sham,” the former Republican president said, repeating accusations that New York Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit is a politically motivated attempt to prevent her return to the White House.
“What we have here is an attempt to harm me in an election,” Trump accused, adding that he is confident “the people of this country will not support this.”
In this lawsuit, Letitia James, a prosecutor who supports the Democratic Party, is asking for $250 million (about €230 million) in fines and a ban on Trump doing business in New York.
James accuses Trump and his company of misleading banks, insurance companies and other organizations by lying about their wealth to gain financial benefits in their companies.
Judge Arthur Engoron has already ruled that Trump committed fraud in his company and will now have to rule on six other charges of falsifying economic data.
The judge’s ruling on corporate fraud last week, if upheld on appeal, could force Trump to lose properties in New York, including Trump Tower, a Wall Street office building, golf courses and a suburban estate.
Trump – who is currently the favored candidate in the Republican primaries for the 2024 presidential election – has denied any wrongdoing and claims that the prosecutor and judge undervalued assets such as his residence in Mar-a-Lago, Florida.
Source: DN
