Trump’s trial begins in New York with two of his sons on fraud charges
Former US President Donald Trump appeared in court on Monday, where his civil trial began with two of his sons on fraud charges, which he described as a “farce” while this case threatens his business empire at the height of his campaign to win a second presidential term.
“We’ve a racist, corrupt prosecutor,” Trump said before entering the New York State Supreme Court (first instance court), where his name was mentioned as a witness.
This civil trial, which paves the way for a judicial marathon, which Trump described as a “farce” that could threaten his economic empire.
The plaintiff in this case, New York State Attorney General Letitia James (her position is equivalent to that of a local attorney general), confirmed before the Palace of Justice in Manhattan that “justice will prevail,” accusing the former president of “repeated fraud” and “cheating”.
“No matter how powerful you are or how much money you think you have, no one is above the law,” she said.
Trump cannot be sentenced to prison in this case, but this trial will provide a preview of the legal events that are likely to derail his campaign for the Republican nomination.
Trump is criminally accused in four different cases that haven’t yet affected his popularity with the Republican base.
In particular, he must appear as of March 4 before a federal court in Washington.
Trump is accused of trying, while in the White House, to overturn the result of the 2020 presidential election, which Joe Biden won.
He will then face trial in New York State on charges of tax fraud, and then in Florida because of his negligent handling of secret documents after his departure from the presidency.
Judge Arthur Engoron said that Trump and two of his sons, Donald Jr. and Eric, committed repeated financial frauds in the first decade of this century by inflating the value of the financial and real estate assets of their company, “The Trump Organization,” between 2014 and 2021, $812 million and $2.2 billion.
