On Sunday night, (10), the former president of the United States, Donald Trump, announced that he will not participate in the fraud trial scheduled for Monday, (11), related to a case brought by the attorney general of the state of New York.
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In this case, the prosecution alleges that Trump’s company inflated the value of properties in order to obtain more advantageous financing. This decision represents a change in strategy following unfavorable testimony from the former leader in November, when he testified for the first time.
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In a post on his social media site, Truth Social, Trump said in all capital letters: “I have nothing more to say other than this is complete and total election interference.” During his testimony in November, Trump denied wrongdoing, expressing his characteristic style, sometimes sarcastic, sometimes angry, and interspersing responses with the usual complaints of “witch hunt” and “very unfair trial”, in addition to electoral themes. Judge Arthur Engoron, who has ruled on the defendants’ guilt, frequently instructed Trump to answer questions without speeches.
Engoron determined that Trump, along with his sons Eric and Donald Jr. and several Trump Organization executives, are responsible for inflating the former president’s wealth by more than $2 billion in order to obtain favorable terms on loans and insurance. Trump defended the overvaluations, arguing that they were common and irrelevant accounting practices.