I'm Sure You Will Rule Against Me – US Ex-President, Trump Tells Judge During Testimony At Civil Fraud Trial

November 6, 2023
Photo Credit: Jabin Botsford/EPA

Former President, Donald Trump, on Monday was in a clash with the trial judge, Arthur Engoron, in his civil fraud case in New York.

"I'm sure the judge will rule against me, because he always rules against me," Trump was quoted by Daily CBSNews as saying.

Engoron's patience went thin as Trump frequently offered long-winded replies to questions concerning the valuations of various Trump Organisation assets.

One of Trump's lawyers, Christopher Kise, persuaded Engoron to let Trump deliver answers his way.

"With this witness, it's far more efficient to listen and take it all in," the lawyer said.

The judge's voice swelled as his rage seemed to erupt, and his microphone strained to cope with the sudden level adjustment.

"No, I'm not here to hear what he has to say," Engoron said, his voice rising. "I'm here to hear him answer questions. Sit down."

Engoron said he was considering drawing negative conclusions from Trump's testimony.

"We got another speech. I beseech you to control you if I can. If you can't, I will. I will excuse him and draw every negative inference that I can," Engoron said.

SaharaReporters earlier reported that Donald Trump was set to testify during the trial.

New York, Attorney-General Letitia James has accused the Trump Organisation of inflating the value of its assets by billions of dollars to obtain more favourable bank loans and insurance terms.

Despite his tendencies in public, Trump on the stand was predicted likely to adopt a conservative line of defence similar to his sons last week – that accountants were the ones ultimately responsible for verifying the accuracy of the company's financial statements.

He earlier gave testimony twice in connection with the case, both times behind closed doors.

SaharaReporters.com

Trump lawyer Alina Habba blasts judge in $250M fraud trial as 'unhinged' outside courtroom
By Chris Nesi
Published Nov. 6, 2023, 6:58 p.m. ET

Donald Trump's firebrand personal attorney Alina Habba slammed the Manhattan judge overseeing his $250 million civil fraud trial as “unhinged” after the two exchanged terse words during the former President's testimony in the case Monday.

Speaking to TV cameras outside the courtroom during a lunch break, Habba, 39, uncorked on Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron, who earlier in the day had admonished her to "sit down" after she interrupted the proceedings to challenge him.

"I was told to sit down today. I was yelled at and I’ve had a judge, who is unhinged, slamming a table. Let me be very clear: I don’t tolerate that in my life. I’m not going to tolerate it here," she said.

She also mentioned Trump's polling numbers in the 2024 presidential race and claimed the country was "falling apart."


Trump’s personal attorney Alina Habba, 39, slammed Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron for telling her to "sit down" during a verbal altercation in court on Monday.
AP

"And the numbers don't lie when President Trump runs for office in 2024," Habba said. "Those numbers are loud and clear."

During the day’s session, Habba rose to her feet and took Engoron to task for cutting Trump off as he gave lengthy testimony about his golf course in Aberdeen, Scotland, which included the boast that it "may be the greatest golf course in the world."


Former U.S. President Donald Trump is questioned by Kevin Wallace of the New York Attorney General’s Office, during the Trump Organization civil fraud trial before Judge Arthur Engoron in New York State Supreme Court. REUTERS

"I am not here to listen to what he has to say!" Engoron said as he instructed Habba to sit down, prompting the attorney to snap back that the judge was in fact there to listen to what her client had to say, insisting that he had a right to give lengthy answers on the stand.

Former President Donald Trump gesturing with his hands while speaking to reporters with his legal team and other onlookers standing behind him.


Engoron dismissed parts of Trump’s lengthy testimony about his Aberdeen, Scotland golf courses as “irrelevant,” prompting Habba to rise to her feet and challenge him.
AP

Engoron seemed to regret the exchange later in the day, apologizing to Habba saying "I'm sorry that I yelled at you before."

Trump's legal team said that it plans to submit court papers asking for a mistrial, but a specific justification for that course of action was not immediately known.


Later in the day Engoron apologized to Habba, saying "I'm sorry that I yelled at you before."

Habba, a former fashion executive, has become one of the trial's breakout stars, not only for her perfectly coiffed hair and designer suits and handbags, but for her sharp and vociferous defence of the former President.

OLAADEGBU:


"I'm sure the judge will rule against me, because he always rules against me," Trump was quoted by Daily CBSNews as saying.

jude79:
The judge must have been produced in Nigeria, how can a judge be acting like a prosecuting attorney

Truthcat:


Kangaroo court will always rule against him but zero x 1000 = 0. They can't stop the Trump train.

OLAADEGBU:


Kangaroo court has no joy!

Nahunger:
We need this man on the center stage again, God please 🙏