What you should know
- Former President Trump asked to speak in Thursday’s closing arguments at his trial for civil fraud of $250 million against him and his company, according to a source with direct knowledge of the situation.
- Judge Arthur Engoron has discretion and has “conceptually approved” the request by Trump’s lawyers, the source said. Engoron has considered the issue and believes it would be beneficial, but Trump’s lawyers must meet certain conditions about the scope, timing and what is considered permissible for a closing argument. His response to the court is due Wednesday.
- The controversial idea that Trump would speak in court was first reported by ABC Newsbut without the above details.
NEW YORK — Former President Trump asked to speak in closing arguments Thursday at his trial for civil fraud of $250 million against him and his company, according to a source with direct knowledge of the situation.
Judge Arthur Engoron has discretion and has “conceptually approved” the request by Trump’s lawyers, the source said. Engoron has considered the issue and believes it would be beneficial, but Trump’s lawyers must meet certain conditions about the scope, timing and what is considered permissible for a closing argument. His response to the court is due Wednesday.
The controversial idea that Trump would speak in court was first reported by ABC Newsbut without the above details.
It is unclear how long Trump plans to speak during Thursday’s proceedings in the Manhattan courtroom, where he faced the judge presiding over the trial.
The trial lasted more than two months and testimony concluded in December. trump later testified from being called as a witness by the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James, who sued Trump last year alleging that he and his company had fraudulently inflated their assets to obtain certain interest rates on bank loans.
Trump denied any wrongdoing during his testimony and was repeatedly reprimanded by Engoron for going off on tangents and not answering questions. Trump, who has repeatedly criticized the judge at campaign rallies and on social media, called Engoron “very hostile” while he was on the stand.
Ron Kuby, a veteran New York lawyer who is not involved in the case, said Engoron “is within his discretion” to accept or reject Trump’s request. He added that the lack of a jury, something Trump has repeatedly complained about, could work in the former president’s favor.
Trump was scheduled to testify in his own defense at the trial, but the night before he announced that he had changed my mind. “I have already testified to everything and I have nothing more to say other than this is a complete and total election interference (Biden campaign!) witch hunt,” he said in a post on his social media platform at the time. “The only fraud committed was by a very partisan, out-of-control judge and racist attorney general,” he added.
Engoron has said he plans to issue a written verdict in the coming weeks.
This article was originally published in English by NBC news. To see the English version click here.
2024-01-10 16:14:09
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