Former President Donald Trump took the stand Monday to testify in his civil fraud trial, defending his wealth and criticizing the case’s judge and attorney general.
Judge Arthur Engoron had to remind the defiant witness that he was in court and not in a “political rally” as he eagerly responded to allegations against him.
“I’m worth billions of dollars more than the financial statements. You go around and try and demean me and try and hurt me, probably for political reasons,” Trump told a state lawyer.
“Not one bank lost money, not one insurance company lost money,” he added.
Trump downplayed his involvement in preparing and evaluating financial statements he is accused of inflating.
“All I did was authorize and tell people to give whatever is necessary for the accountants to do the statements,” he said.
“I would look at them, I would see them and maybe on some occasions, I would have some suggestions.”
Throughout the three-and-a-half hours' testimony, the Republican frontrunner sparred with the “very hostile” judge and attacked Attorney General Letitia James as she stared at him.
“I think that she’s a political hack, and I think she used this case to try and become governor, and she used it successfully to become attorney general. I think it’s a disgrace that this case is going on,” he said.
