New York AG Sues Trump Family for Financial Fraud

'Trump fraud trial live updates: Former president arrives at court for Day 3'

Trump’s former longtime accountant, Donald Bender, is expected to be back on the witness stand today as the former president’s attorneys continue cross-examination.'


35m ago / 9:28 AM EDT
Trump and James arrive at the courthouse

Summer Concepcion

Trump and James arrived at the courthouse shortly before 9:30 a.m. ET.

Proceedings are expected to begin around 10 a.m. ET.




https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/live-blog/trump-trial-fraud-live-updates-rcna118694

 

16m ago / 10:57 AM EDT
Trump lawyer grills Bender about accounting work

Lisa Rubin

Suarez is now cross-examining Bender about some accounting principles. This is a level of deep accounting weediness that Trump is nonetheless sitting through.

Trump's lawyers are trying to show — despite the Trump Organization’s written assertion that it, not Mazars, was responsible for the preparation of the statements in compliance with standardized accounting practices — that Bender should have known and should have guided Trump better.

They are also trying to establish, as Bender just agreed, that even under this particular standard, there is no one accepted way to estimate the current value of an asset to show that what Trump and his co-defendants did was not fraudulent, much less intentionally so.

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23m ago / 10:50 AM EDT
Trump lawyer spars with his ex-accountant on the stand
Lisa Rubin, Adam Reiss and Dareh Gregorian

Trump attorney Jesus Suarez is mixing it up with Bender on the witness stand.

After Bender testified that a correction on the size of Trump's triplex apartment was the work of the Trump Organization and not him, Suarez suggested that Bender was lying when he said a now-deceased accountant was his “relationship partner” at Mazars for all Trump work.

A relationship partner, in law and accounting firm parlance, is the person who might have originated the business relationship and might handle the bills, but is not necessarily the lead partner handling the work.

Suarez took Bender through a series of “engagement continuance forms” internal to his former accounting firm Mazars that listed Bender as the partner in charge. The judge seemed unimpressed, however, and suggested they move on.

Trump appears engaged with his soft-spoken former accountant's testimony and complained at one point he couldn't hear what Bender was saying. Bender then started speaking more clearly and closer to the microphone, often answering "I don't recall" to Suarez's questions.'

 

I'm truly stunned the oaf made 2.5 days at this trial (with the news he's going back to Florida today).and sat there unable to say a word....

If he had showed that sort of dedication to doing his actual job..... nope.... still never get my vote, but I'm impressed nonetheless...

 

There must be a method to his (transparent) madness somehow using/needing his presence now or he needs to return on Monday, should he leave today for Florida.
The last thing Trump wants to do is sit for that deposition.

Should he pull some **** like that the Miami judge should dismiss his 500 million suit against Cohen and sanction him for Cohen's defense costs.



'Trump’s deposition in his civil lawsuit against former attorney Michael Cohen was scheduled for Tuesday, the day after the New York business fraud trial begins. In light of the overlap and Trump’s intent to attend the beginning of the New York trial, the Miami judge granted Trump’s request and rescheduled the Florida deposition for October 9.'

 

It’s all theater. I’m not saying he isn’t truly pissed but, sitting there scowling was a show for his MAGrateA’s. Probably fleeced them for another 10 million.

 

Which number did HE choose to use to proclaim from the bench what is the value of the property? Whg do YOU not understand the values I cited ong with the similar properties?

If I put my house in the market and say it is worth $500,000 and you agree to buy it for that amount and later you see the tax assesor only valued it at $400,000 do you have a claim I defrauded you? Should an elected judge who has publicly stated you are a bad person years later be asked to look at it by the guy who hates you and just uses the tax assesors number can they ruin you financially anz sieze your money and ban you from yoir profession even though the purchaser never filed a complaint?

 

h ago / 2:57 PM EDT
Accountant talks about Eric Trump, who is still in the room
Lisa Rubin and Adam Reiss

Eric Trump has come up for the first time in testimony. Harris is saying that Eric Trump was a member of the executive leadership who set “the tone at the top” and that he had no interactions with the president's son regarding the statements of financial condition. Their first meeting took place after the 2021 statement was issued.

Although the former president left the courthouse, his son stayed.

Eric Trump sat in the front row, shaking his head suggesting he doesn’t agree with Harris' descriptions of his role.

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1h ago / 2:53 PM EDT
Another Trump accountant testifies

Lisa Rubin

As we return from the lunch break to a courtroom devoid of Trump, Engoron has allowed an interruption to Bender’s testimony to accommodate Camron Harris, the partner at Whitley Penn who handled Trump’s accounting work after Mazars resigned in 2020.

Harris is now discussing the role of Jeff McConney, the Trump Org. comptroller, in their engagement to compile the statements of financial condition.

As the AG did with Bender, they are reviewing specific language from Whitley Penn’s written description of the process. He says they went through the 2020 statement of financial condition to understand how to obtain information and their process.

Harris discussed Whitley Penn’s internal “program” for compiling statements of financial condition, which appears to be a guide to how to handle compilations. “We do not verify any of the accuracy of the information provided,” which distinguishes a compilation from a review or an audit. It does not include, for example, analytics or inquiries of management, much less verification of work papers.

He is essentially limiting the scope of their work, as Bender did.

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2h ago / 2:42 PM EDT
Trial resumes without Trump

Adam Reiss

The trial has resumed without the former president, who left the courtroom at the break. The mood in the courtroom is considerably lighter now that Trump is no longer here.

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2h ago / 2:22 PM EDT
James calls Trump's attendance a 'fundraising stop'

Dareh Gregorian

James blasted the former president on her way into the courtroom for the afternoon's testimony, calling his appearance at the trial a "political stunt" and a "fundraising stop."

"The Donald Trump show is over," she said, calling his comments "offensive and baseless" and devoid of facts and evidence while not specifying which remarks she was referring to. Trump has repeatedly called the AG "corrupt" and her civil charges against him baseless during his two and a half days at the courthouse. Trump departed the courthouse this afternoon after the morning's proceedings.

Minutes earlier, Trump had sent out a fundraising email that started, “I just left the courthouse for the day for my unjust trial in New York.”

James said Trump had "fomented violence" and made "race-baiting" comments and "appeals to the bottom of our humanity."

"I will not be bullied," she said. "Justice will be served."



Letitia James slams Trump’s comments on civil fraud trial
OCT. 4, 202300:58

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3h ago / 1:25 PM EDT
Trump blasts judge, legal system before leaving courthouse
Dareh Gregorian, Susan Kroll and Lisa Rubin

As Trump left the courthouse after attending the civil fraud trial against him and his company, he bashed the judge, the state attorney general and the legal system.

"I’m here, stuck here," an angry Trump complained before leaving. "I'd rather be right now in Iowa, I’d rather be in New Hampshire or South Carolina or Ohio or a lot of other places, but I’m stuck here because I have a corrupt attorney general," he fumed before leaving in a motorcade.

The former president, who had no legal obligation to attend the trial, said he'd done so since Monday because he wanted to point out "how corrupt it is."

Referring to the summary judgment order where the judge found that Trump’s financial statements contained fraudulent valuations, Trump said, “they defrauded us because he called me a fraud.”

He also attacked the judge, saying he's "run by the Democrats" and "already knows what he's going to do." "Our whole system is corrupt," he said, adding that Engoron came out of "the clubhouse."

Engoron came to the bench through the neighborhood-specific Democratic clubs that have a disproportionate role in who runs for elected office (and especially lower-tier offices) in NY.

Yesterday, we met a trial observer who told us that he is a professional musician and a friend of Engoron. He said they knew each other through their club, which is now known as Westside Democrats. Of course, that doesn’t mean Engoron is unqualified, biased, or wrong.

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Oh, god, Trump with the gavel. lol



Donald J. Trump

@realDonaldTrump

·1h

 

ffs! lol
The judge used all the numbers that Trump used.
2011-2021
James used Trump's numbers in her Sept-2022 indictment.
Trump announced his 2024 run in Nov-2022.
It's only "election interference" in Tump's pea brain.

Donald J. Trump

@realDonaldTrump

·30m



The Trial in NYC brought by the Racist A.G., Letitia James, who “convinced” the highly partisan Democrat Judge in charge of the case that Mar-a-Lago is only worth 18 Million Dollars, when it is worth 50 to 100 times that amount, should be dismissed in that Peekaboo and the Judge fraudulently reduced the value of Mar-a-Lago, and other assets, in order to make their FAKE case more viable. This is yet another Witch Hunt for purposes of Election Interference. Letitia is a Dirty Cop who is driving business out of New York in record numbers. She should be Impeached for falsification of documents, Mar-a-Lago value being a prime example. Another murder just took place in New York while she sits in a Courtroom and sleeps!!!

 

'What's in the lawsuit?'
Here's a look at what the 222-page document alleges:

• Donald Trump and three of his children lied about the value of his properties - hotels, golf courses and other assets - in order to secure better loans and lower tax rates
• Over the course of a decade, Trump and his family made more than 200 false or misleading valuations on financial statements
• The potential value of development on some estates was overstated, and used to gain higher tax benefits for forfeiting development in favour of conservation
• Each statement was personally certified as accurate by Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr, or former Trump Organization financial executive Allen Weisselberg
• The scheme enriched the Trump family by at least $250m (£220m) - the state wants to recover that money

 

I still think it's hilarious that he doesn't want to give a deposition in HIS OWN lawsuit... Another first for the American Judicial System...

 

It's only Wednesday, but this is probably the headline of the week

Trump bails out of fraud trial on 3rd day: He came, he scowled, he got gagged, and left

https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-leaves-fraud-trial-on-3rd-day-2023-10

 

Live updates:
18m ago / 10:38 AM EDT

Judge sets timeline for Trump to dissolve LLCs
Lisa Rubin and Dareh Gregorian

As the trial proceeds in court, Judge Engoron issued a ruling to make sure the former president and other defendants in the case are complying with his order last week canceling their New York business certificates.

The judge formally extended the deadline for Trump's team and the AG's office to submit suggestions for an independent receiver to oversee the dissolution of the companies by Oct. 26. He also directed the Trump team to turn over a full list of those companies, and to inform the monitor already overseeing the Trump Organization's financial transactions about any third parties who have ownership interests.

The order also directs Trump's team to inform the monitor in advance of any applications for new business certificates and any transfer of assets.

The judge's summary judgment ruling last week found that Trump and his companies had committed repeated fraud, and canceled business certificates for LLCs "controlled or beneficially owned" by Trump, his sons Don Jr. and Eric, and two Trump Organization executives. It originally gave the parties 10 days to name a potential receiver, but Engoron extended the deadline at the request of Trump's lawyers. Trump filed a notice Wednesday that he's appealing the ruling.'

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/live-blog/trump-trial-fraud-live-updates-rcna118882

 

'Judge Tries to Stop Trump From Hiding His Money'
Source: Daily Beast

'The judge who doomed Donald Trump’s family business last week took an aggressive and preemptive step on Wednesday to ensure the former president can't secretly shift assets to salvage his real estate empire.

In an order that was posted on the fourth day of the former president’s bank fraud trial, Justice Arthur F. Engoron commanded that the Trumps identify any corporations they have—and come clean about any plans to move around money in an attempt to hide or keep their wealth.

...snip...

Trump, sons Don Jr. and Eric, and two other top executives were ordered to tell the court about “any other entity is controlled or beneficially owned” by them, “any creation of a new entity to hold or acquire the assets,” and “any anticipated transfer of assets.”

The judge also empowered a court-appointed monitor currently babysitting the Trump Organization, a former federal judge named Barbara Jones, to manage this phase until someone can be appointed to disintegrate Trump’s companies.'

Read more: https://www.thedailybeast.com/judge-tries-to-stop-trump-from-hiding-his-money

 

AG Leitita James releases all of Trump's August 10,2022 deposition.

 

Good to remember that during the timeline deposition Trump was trying to settle this fraud case with James and she refused his offer(s).

 

Live
Ben said Trump fled yesterday because he knew what was coming during his trial

 

Day 4
4h ago / 12:59 PM EDT
'McConney says Trump had final sign off on financial statements'

Lisa Rubin

McConney testified that he and then-CFO Allen Weisselberg reviewed the final version of the financial compilations and that once Weisselberg signed off, he would notify their accounting company, Mazars.

But he acknowledged that, through his own handwritten notation, he amended Mazars’ issuance letters to indicate Trump himself was entitled to a final review of the compilation of statements of financial condition.

McConney distanced himself from whatever review Trump did or did not do, saying what happened before Weisselberg’s signoff was not within his knowledge, but he could not escape having to confirm that the letters were amended to make clear Trump was entitled to a final review.

In addition, the AG's office showed McConney a list of Trump Org properties with listed values that he marked up the following year with new values. He said that for many years, he marked up the spreadsheets used for backup to the compilations; other times, he just made handwritten notations on the one-page list of properties and sent that back to Mazars.

McConney, who's also a defendant in the case, was then shown letters he sent to a lender to disclose the statements of financial condition to Royal Bank America. That letter and others like it are part of how the AG will attempt to establish McConney’s liability for false financial statements, in addition to his involvement in preparing the statements themselves.

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https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/live-blog/trump-trial-fraud-live-updates-rcna118882

 

And the latest news is NY's AG said Trump going to his own trial is a publicity stunt. Oh, and he's a racist.

 

Neither of those is actual news... one we've known for years, the other for a full week...

 

Ooops... never mind...

Always a loser, but now a quitter... MAGA Poster Child...

SNIP
Former President moved Thursday to dismiss his $500 million lawsuit against his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, without prejudice, allowing him to refile the suit again in the future.

Trump's campaign issued a statement to CBS News, claiming that the civil and criminal battles he's waging, along with his 2024 presidential campaign, are currently occupying too much of his time to pursue the lawsuit at this time.
ENDSNIP

https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-moves-temporarily-dismiss-lawsuit-003231485.html

I wonder if Cohen can get anything for the effort he and his team put in? Doesn't seem right the quitter walks away with no consequence for another frivo....

 

As an example of the validity of the prosecution's claims that Trump over-valued his property-
Consider Mar-A-Largo. The prosecution and judge seemed to think it valued between $18 and $27 Million.

What is Mar-A_Largo?
17 prime acres in Palm Beach, FL. Built in 1927 by what was then the richest woman in America, heir to the Post cereal fortune. 126 rooms, over 62,000 square feet. The mansion has 58 bedrooms, 33 bathrooms with gold-plated fixtures, an 1,800-square-foot living room with a 42-foot ceiling, a ballroom with gold leaf decoration, and a 75-foot tower. Designed by Marion Sims Wyeth in an ersatz Hispano-Moresque style, it boasts some 36,000 antique Spanish floor tiles and 2,200 square feet of black and white marble floor blocks imported from a Cuban castle. Its exterior walls are constructed of Dorian stone, a fossil-bearing limestone, imported from Genoa, Italy. Other features of the property include a citrus grove, greenhouses, several tennis courts, and two swimming pools. A tunnel leading under South Ocean Boulevard provides private access from the house to the beach. To keep the mansion hurricane-resistant, it is anchored to a coral reef by concrete and steel. It's a national historic landmark, and has many more unique features that are way over the top. The current price of mansions in Palm Beach is running about $1500 per square foot, and that's for the average, run-of-the-mill mansions. At that price, Mar-A-Largo value would be- $93,000,000,000......

In his ruling, Engoron wrote that Trump had put the value of Mar-a-Lago at between $426.5 million to $612.1 million in filings—what the judge called "an overvaluation of at least 2,300 percent ...

 

Trump fraud trial live updates:
' Day 5 kicks off with ex-Trump executive's testimony'

'Lawyers for the attorney general's office grilled a former Trump Org. executive yesterday, the first day without the former president in court.'

18m ago / 9:29 AM EDT
James arrives at the courthouse

Lisa Rubin

James arrived at the courthouse shortly before 9:30 a.m. ET. James, who has attended the trial every day this week, told NBC News that she will not necessarily attend every day going forward, but felt it was important to be there for the first week.

She said she would also be in court for the testimonies of Allen Weisselberg, former chief financial officer of the Trump Organization, and former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen.



NY AG says she will be in court for Cohen and Weisselberg’s testimony
OCT. 6, 202300:08

• 35m ago / 9:12 AM EDT

Trump lawyers fight to dismiss election interference and hush money cases
OCT. 6, 202304:0041m ago / 9:06 AM EDT
What to expect on Day 5
Zoë Richards

Trump’s lawyers said they plan to take action today against Engoron's summary judgment last week.

They said they plan to file a stay pending appeal before the First Department of the Appellate Division. In court yesterday, they refused to reveal the scope of the requested stay.

Engoron's ruling found that Trump and his companies had committed repeated fraud, and canceled business certificates for LLCs “controlled or beneficially owned” by Trump, his sons Don Jr. and Eric, and two Trump Organization executives.

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41m ago / 9:06 AM EDT
Here's what happened at trial yesterday
Zoë Richards

Donald Bender, Trump's longtime accountant, took the stand for his third day of testimony and was questioned by defense attorneys about the culpability of Trump's adult children regarding allegedly inflated financial statements.

Lawyers for the New York Attorney General's Office questioned Jeff McConney, a former Trump Organization executive, about the value of Trump’s Manhattan triplex, which Engoron ruled last week had been fraudulently inflated.

Trump wasn't in court yesterday after attending the first three days of the trial. He flew back to Florida on Wednesday afternoon.'

• https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/live-blog/trump-fraud-trial-live-updates-rcna119144

 

10m ago / 9:56 AM EDT
What to expect in court in the coming days

Adam Reiss

Former Trump Org. executive Jeff McConney will be back on the stand today followed by Allen Weisselberg on Tuesday after a holiday break on Monday. After that, we'll hear from Nick Haigh, a risk manager with Deutsche Bank who has been traveling overseas and possibly more from Weisselberg.

Then comes Patrick Birney of the Trump Organization and possibly Michael Cohen by the end of next week.