Ivanka Trump loses appeal to delay testimony in her father’s $250m New York fraud trial: Live

Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump lost an appeal to postpone her testimony in her father’s $250m civil fraud lawsuit.

Her attorney had sought a delay in her testimony on 8 November, arguing she would face “undue hardship” as it was scheduled “in the middle of a school week”.

An appeals court swiftly denied her request late Thursday to delay her testimony.

It happened as the day ended with the back-to-back appearances of Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump in a New York courtroom for the trial.

Donald Trump Jr was the first of the family to testify in the trial, the outcome of which could topple their business empire in the state. He was followed by his brother Eric Trump who struggled to line up his responses with documentary evidence produced by prosecutors relating to the financial statements at the heart of the case.

While the former president raged on Truth Social that his sons were being “persecuted”, his attorneys got into a heated verbal altercation with Judge Arthur Engoron over communications with his law clerk leading him to bang on the bench in anger.

Alex Woodward reports from on the ground at the courthouse in New York

Key Points

• Ivanka Trump loses appeal to delay testimony in New York civil fraud trial

• ‘So sad to see my sons being persecuted’, says Trump

• Furious fraud trial judge assails Trump attorneys after Donald Jr and Eric testimony

• Donald Trump Jr arrives in court ahead of civil fraud trial testimony

• Ivanka Trump must testify in father’s civil fraud trial, judge rules

• Trump’s 2024 presidential bid under threat over ‘insurrection’ clause

• Trump election lies fuel US politics – even after Georgia allies flip

Ivanka Trump loses appeal to delay ‘middle of school week’ testimony in New York civil fraud trial

07:56 , Shweta Sharma

Former president Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump lost an appeal to postpone her testimony in her father’s $250m civil fraud lawsuit.

An interim appeals court swiftly denied her motion to seek a temporary stay on Thursday night for testimony on 8 November after her attorney said she would encounter “undue hardship” as it was scheduled “in the middle of a school week”.

“Ms Trump, who resides in Florida with her three minor children, will suffer undue hardship if a stay is denied and she is required to testify at trial in New York in the middle of a school week, in a case she has already been dismissed from, before her appeal is heard,” her attorney said in an appeal filed Thursday.

FLOW

Giuliani should be worried, says Jenna Ellis lawyer

07:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Lawyers for Jenna Ellis, the former lawyer for Donald Trump and co-defendant in the Fulton County election subversion indictment, said in an interview that Rudy Giuliani “should be worried” about the case.

Ms Ellis’s attorneys — Frank Hogue and his wife and co-counsel Laura Hogue — spoke to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution about their client’s recent plea deal. She is the fourth of 19 defendants to accept an offer from prosecutors.

The case was brought by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and of the four criminal indictments with former president Trump at the centre, it is the most sprawling, encapsulating multiple plots to overturn the 2020 election result in Georgia.

Ms Ellis pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting false statements and writings, a felony that carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, however, she was sentenced under the First Offender Act to five years probation.

This could come to an end after three years of good behaviour and she would not have a criminal record.

Crucially for prosecutors, Ms Ellis agreed to cooperate with the case going forward. This potentially makes her a star witness against fellow defendants including the former president and Mr Giuliani.

Giuliani should be worried, says Jenna Ellis lawyer after plea deal

ICYMI: Don Jr quips he ‘should have worn make-up’ before dodging questions at New York trial

06:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump Jr stepped into the witness stand on Wednesday in a $250m civil fraud trial in New York stemming from a blockbuster lawsuit that threatens the Trump family business and its vast real-estate empire.

As the judge allowed photographers to take pictures of the former president’s oldest son, he quipped: “I should have worn make-up.”

Donald Jr, in a dark blue suit and pink tie, is the first among his children to testify in the trial, now in the middle of its fifth week, resuming inside a Manhattan courtroom on 1 November.

Before he took office in January 2017, then-President-elect Trump named his sons Donald Jr and Eric to run his company.

Seven years later, the former president and his two oldest sons are co-defendants in a case that could collapse the family business. Eric Trump also is scheduled to testify this week. Mr Trump will take the stand on 6 November.

Alex Woodward reports from the courthouse.

Donald Trump Jr quips he ‘should have worn make-up’ in NY fraud trial

Trump aide denies account of Jan 6 failure to call National Guard

04:30 , Oliver O'Connell

A former Donald Trump administration official has denied that the ex-president chose not to summon the National Guard during the January 6 insurrection.

Kash Patel, the former administration official, was present as a Trump witness on Wednesday for a potentially significant hearing taking place in Colorado. The trial will determine whether Mr Trump is eligible to run for the 2024 presidential ballot based on the 14th Amendment.

Mr Patel was the chief of staff to acting defence secretary Christopher Miller during the events of 6 January.

The former Trump administration official and right-wing activist denied allegations that the former president obstructed the authorisation of the National Guard’s deployment.

Maroosha Muzaffar has the story.

Supreme Court case shows size does matter

03:00 , Oliver O'Connell

How small are Donald Trump’s hands?

Apparently, small enough to warrant selling t-shirts mocking them but too big to trademark – at least that’s the gist of the argument the US government is making in the Supreme Court case Vidal v Elster.

In a case with a highly unusual backstory, the nine justices are being asked to decide if a section of US trademark law that prohibits trademarking a person’s name without their consent is actually a violation of the First Amendment.

More specifically, they’re talking about the phrase: “TRUMP TOO SMALL”.

The case comes amid a jam-packed term for the court, which will hear cases concerning government censorship of social media, gun rights and racial gerrymandering. The Trump trademark case may not be the most consequential, but it illustrates the ongoing impact of the 45th president.

Ariana Baio reports.

‘Trump too small’ t-shirt Supreme Court case shows size does matter

Classified documents judge may delay trial

02:00 , Oliver O'Connell

The Donald Trump-appointed judge overseeing the criminal case into his handling of classified documents has now hinted that she may delay the trial – after the former president’s legal team claimed it would take 10 years to go through all the evidence in the case.

In a court hearing in Florida on Wednesday, US District Judge Aileen Cannon – who has repeatedly sided with Mr Trump since being handed the case – cast doubts on it being realistic that the trial can go ahead as planned in May.

“I’m having a hard time seeing how this work can be accomplished realistically in this period of time,” she said.

She also appeared to scold prosecutors, saying that they lacked “a level of understanding to these realities” around the current timeline.

Rachel Sharp reports.

Trump-appointed judge hints she may delay classified documents trial

Why abortion could have a big impact on Ohio and Virginia in 2024

01:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Voters are headed to the polls in two states where the “Dobbs Effect” will face its latest test.

A year after the Supreme Court’s conservative majority ended federal protections for abortion in Dobbs vs Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the issue of abortion is back on the ballot in two battleground states that will each play a major role in next year’s presidential election.

In Ohio, voters will consider an amendment to the state constitution enshrining “a fundamental right to reproductive freedom” as a right of all Ohioans, allowing for some limits on the practice of abortion but generally protecting it from an all-out ban or severe restrictions.

And in Virginia, the state’s Republican governor is rallying his party around a 15-week abortion ban, and encouraging a perception of the state House of Delegates and Senate as either a green light or a roadblock ahead of the implementation of that legislation. Republicans took the governor’s mansion and House of Delegates in 2021, leaving Democrats in control of just one corner of government.

All eyes are on these two states in the political world for obvious reasons: the pair of states are two major battlegrounds for presidential elections, though Ohio has trended increasingly red in recent cycles. The elections also represent the first real test of the American electorate in terms of abortion views since last year’s midterm congressional elections, when Republicans saw their “red wave” evaporate into a defeat in the Senate and a razor-thin unruly House majority.

John Bowden reports.

Trump’s plan? Embarrass DeSantis by flipping his endorsements

00:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump and his allies are attempting to win over influential Florida Republicans who previously endorsed Governor Ron DeSantis.

Two people told NBC News that as many as six GOP lawmakers from the Sunshine State could flip from Mr DeSantis to the former president as soon as next week.

The scheme is planned to come to fruition amid the Florida Freedom Summit set to take place on Saturday, which will be attended by all the major GOP presidential candidates.

The goal is for Florida lawmakers on the state level to come out for Mr Trump next week – the third GOP primary debate is set to take place on Wednesday in Miami but Mr Trump has indicated that he will not take part.

“It’s coming,” one person told NBC. “Exact number not yet said, but it will be close to 10.”

Gustaf Kilander reports.

Jimmy Kimmel tears into Don Jr over testimony

Thursday 2 November 2023 23:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Jimmy Kimmel served Donald Trump Jr a brutal mockery after he took to the witness stand on Wednesday in a $250 million fraud lawsuit against the Trump family business brought by the New York attorney general.

The former president’s son testified over fraudulent documents concerning the financial status of the real estate company, the Trump Organization.

Mr Trump Jr, who denies any involvement alongside his brother Eric Trump, made a witty remark about regretting not wearing make-up as photographers lined the courtroom.

One person who certainly did not find Mr Trump Jr’s jokes funny was talk show host Mr Kimmel.

Amelia Neath reports.

Jimmy Kimmel tears down Donald Trump Jr after fraud trial testimony

Watch: Won’t somebody think of the children!

Thursday 2 November 2023 22:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Recap: Why are Trump’s children testifying at the New York civil fraud trial?

Thursday 2 November 2023 22:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Manhattan in October as his civil fraud case came to trial at the state’s Supreme Court.

New York Attorney General Letitia James brought the case against the Trump Organization regarding the business’s statements to obtain better terms on loans and insurance from financial institutions.

The case focuses on the years between 2011 and 2021 and involves falsified financial statements regarding the development of several real estate projects and inflating Mr Trump’s net worth in order to get better financing terms from banks and insurance companies.

This was done by over-stating valuations of the former president’s most prestigious holdings including his triplex penthouse at Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan and his current home at the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida.

Their entire New York real estate empire is already in peril after a pre-trial ruling included the cancellation of their business licences in the state.

As the prosecution’s case draws to a close, three of his adult children are taking the stand to testify under oath.

So how are three of his adult children wrapped up in all this and why are they testifying at the trial?

Why are Trump’s children testifying at New York civil fraud trial?

Today in court: Furious fraud trial judge assails Trump attorneys after Donald Jr and Eric testimony

Thursday 2 November 2023 21:41 , Oliver O'Connell

After hours of testimony from Donald Trump’s adult sons that the office of New York Attorney General called “extremely” favourable in its case against his business empire, attorneys for the former president raged at the judge overseeing the case, throwing a last-minute grenade into Thursday’s trial.

Judge Arthur Engoron snapped at Trump attorney Christopher Kise, who mentioned the judge’s chief clerk, the subject of disparaging comments from Mr Trump that prompted a gag order he subsequently violated twice.

“Do not refer to my staff again,” the judge said. “If there’s any further reference to anyone on my staff … I will include a standing gag order to include [attorneys].”

Judge Engoron suggested that there’s a “bit of misogyny” that fuels the comments against his female clerk, which Mr Trump’s attorneys flatly denied.

“I have an absolute right to get advice from my principal law clerk,” the judge said.

“There is no First Amendment value that I can see to refer to her, particularly when making things up – that’s not you, that’s someone else,” said Judge Engoron, referencing Mr Trump’s statements about her.

“So weighing First Amendment rights against the safety of my staff, when we know what’s going on out there in the world,” he added, alluding to harassment and threats of violence against public officials surrounding Mr Trump’s mountain of criminal and civil litigation. “Your points are not well taken.”

Attorneys Christopher Kise and Alina Habba criticised his clerk for passing him “notes” throughout the trial.

Judge Engoron slammed the bench as he spoke directly into a microphone, his voice booming in the echo-filled courtroom.

Those notes are “confidential communications from my law clerk,” he said, striking the bench with each word.

The heated remarks between the judge and Mr Trump’s defence team concluded a day of testimony from Mr Trump’s oldest sons, who are now co-defendants in a $250m lawsuit from New York Attorney General Letitia James alleging years of fraud within the Trump Organization.

Read Alex Woodward’s full courtroom report for The Independent

House Speaker calls far-right Greene and Massie ‘close friends’

Thursday 2 November 2023 21:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson called far-right members Marjorie Taylor Greene and Thomas Massie “close friends” during a press conference as more information comes out regarding the views of the low-profile lawmaker suddenly elevated to the top job in the chamber.

Asked by a reporter about Ms Greene’s and Mr Massie’s views on the proposed aid package to Israel, Mr Johnson said: “I’ve had great discussions with Thomas and Marjorie, they’re close friends and committed conservatives and I don’t disagree with them on many issues and principles. They understand the necessity of us getting our appropriations bills done and sent over.”

The $14bn aid package put forward by Mr Johnson came with equal amounts in cuts to the IRS, which the Congressional Budget Office said would lose the government more than $26bn in tax revenue.

Gustaf Kilander reports.

Speaker Mike Johnson calls far-right Greene and Massie ‘close friends’

Watch: Eric Trump appears to indicate he doesn’t believe he’s being fairly treated

Thursday 2 November 2023 21:06 , Oliver O'Connell

Giuliani should be worried, says Jenna Ellis lawyer

Thursday 2 November 2023 21:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Lawyers for Jenna Ellis, the former lawyer for Donald Trump and co-defendant in the Fulton County election subversion indictment, said in an interview that Rudy Giuliani “should be worried” about the case.

Ms Ellis’s attorneys — Frank Hogue and his wife and co-counsel Laura Hogue — spoke to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution about their client’s recent plea deal. She is the fourth of 19 defendants to accept an offer from prosecutors.

The case was brought by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and of the four criminal indictments with former president Trump at the centre, it is the most sprawling, encapsulating multiple plots to overturn the 2020 election result in Georgia.

Ms Ellis pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting false statements and writings, a felony that carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, however, she was sentenced under the First Offender Act to five years probation.

This could come to an end after three years of good behaviour and she would not have a criminal record.

Crucially for prosecutors, Ms Ellis agreed to cooperate with the case going forward. This potentially makes her a star witness against fellow defendants including the former president and Mr Giuliani.

Giuliani should be worried, says Jenna Ellis lawyer after plea deal

‘So sad to see my sons being persecuted'

Thursday 2 November 2023 20:51 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump is back on Truth Social raging at his family being made to testify in the civil fraud trial against the family and its namesake company:

So sad to see my sons being PERSECUTED in a political Witch Hunt by this out of control, publicity seeking, New York State Judge, on a case that should have NEVER been brought. Legal Scholars Scream Disgrace! My $WORTH is far GREATER than on Financial Statements, plus they contain a full DISCLAIMER CLAUSE telling readers of this information to do their own due diligence and analysis. ALSO, their Star Witness admitted on the stand that he LIED, a big story not covered by the press. Banks and Insurance Companies made money, not even a minor default, and there were NO VICTIMS, except for the people getting mugged and murdered on the sidewalks of New York while our Corrupt Attorney General sits on her ass in Court all day watching the Trump family be abused by a Trump Hating Judge that said a Billion Dollar house is only worth $18,000,000 Million Dollars!!!

Thursday 2 November 2023 20:46 , Oliver O'Connell

And, on that hot-tempered note, court proceedings are done for the day.

The trial resumes tomorrow morning at 10am with the conclusion of Eric Trump’s testimony.

NY fraud trial: Judge threatens Trump attorneys with gag order

Thursday 2 November 2023 20:35 , Oliver O'Connell

Alex Woodward reports from the courtroom:

Trump attorney Christopher Kise, in his latest objection, referred to the judge’s clerk.

“Do not refer to my staff again,” the judge said. “Sometimes I think there’s a bit of misogyny that you keep referring to my principal law clerk.”

He added: “If there’s any further reference to anyone on my staff … I will include a standing gag order to include [attorneys].”

Kise responds, saying that he often feels like he is “fighting two adversaries.”

Eric Trump is still on the witness stand. All of the attorneys are standing.

“I have an absolute right to get advice from my principal law clerk,” the judge responds.

“There is no First Amendment value that I can see to refer to her, particularly when making things up – that’s not you, that’s someone else,” he adds.

“So weighing First Amendment rights against the safety of my staff, when we know what’s going on out there in the world, your points are not well taken.”

So after a day of Eric Trump’s testimony that counsel with the attorney general’s office says was “extremely favourable” to its case, Trump’s attorneys are throwing a grenade into the trial.

Jury selection in Trump federal election interference case to begin in just three months

Thursday 2 November 2023 20:25 , Oliver O'Connell

Judge Tanya Chutkan has issued an order in the federal 2020 election conspiracy criminal case against Donald Trump stating that “a questionnaire will be distributed to prospective jurors summoned to complete it at the courthouse on February 9, 2024”.

The order also says: “Although the parties may conduct open-source research regarding prospective jurors, they may not do so in any way that involves direct contact or communication with a prospective juror, nor may the parties use non-public databases for juror research.”

Further, it says: “No party may disclose, either in open court or outside of court, prospective jurors’ names or any identifying information.”

Read the full order here.

Thursday 2 November 2023 20:16 , Oliver O'Connell

On the witness stand after the video is shown, Eric says: “I think that’s an accurate statement.”

“Clearly I was on a few phone calls,” he says. “That was a six-month process. You pointed out four conversations.”

He’s standing by his testimony.

His own attorneys object.

“Asked and answered,” Judge Engoron says. “He said he stands by his testimony.”

Just a moment before that last exchange, Amer tried to stop his attorneys from objecting, fearing that whatever they would say would’ve influenced Eric’s testimony. Amer wanted to excuse him from the courtroom if they were going to do that.

Trump attorney Christopher Kise flipped out: “Are you running the courtroom or is the judge?”

Eric defends his vague recollection by pointing out that the emails are from 10 years ago.

Thursday 2 November 2023 20:10 , Oliver O'Connell

The court is shown more of Eric Trump’s deposition tape now.

“Do you recognise the name David McArdle?”

The court has just seen emails from Mr McArdle with Eric and other Trump figures.

There’s a very, very long pause before Eric says: “I recognise the name very, very vaguely … Yes, I recognise the name.”

In the deposition video, Eric says appraisal work is “inconsistent with what my role is at the company”.

“To the best of my knowledge, I really haven’t been involved… in appraisal work in this property,” he said.

He continued “I’m just saying I don’t remember this. I didn’t sign this document. I don’t recall anything about this. … I don’t focus on appraisals between a law firm and [Cushman & Wakefield]. It’s not what I do in my day-to-day responsibilities. I probably recognise the name.”

Thursday 2 November 2023 20:00 , Oliver O'Connell

The court is shown some more correspondence with David McArdle of Cushman & Wakefield, this time for 71 residential units at Trump National Golf Club in Westchester, New York.

It’s a familiar routine of the bit-by-bit exhibits on display.

Andrew Amer with the New York Attorney General’s office has been trying to lay the groundwork to show that Eric Trump disregarded an appraisal that would be used in a statement of financial condition.

Thursday 2 November 2023 19:37 , Oliver O'Connell

Regarding the feeling in the courtroom compared to other days in the trial, Alex Woodward writes:

We’re going into our final hour and things have been relatively chilled out compared to other days when people named Trump are in the building.

Infrequent objections, few if any vocal disagreements among parties – nothing typically Trump-level weird, other than Don Jr’s courthouse steps routine. [More on that later]

The only two remaining scheduled witnesses are Donald Trump and Ivanka Trump, who won’t be here any earlier than Monday. So if the attorney general wraps up questions soon, and there’s no cross-examination, I’m not sure what’s on deck for Friday...

Stay tuned.

NY fraud trial: More evasion and less recollection

Thursday 2 November 2023 19:35 , Oliver O'Connell

Alex Woodward reports from the courthouse:

We’re in a court break now, but the last few minutes have been getting somewhere pretty crucial.

Amer is asking Eric about his work with a professional appraiser for valuations around Seven Springs. He signed an engagement letter with David McArdle of Cushman & Wakefield for that.

But Eric insists Sherri Dillon was more involved in that saying she was "much closer to the process”.

Asked twice if the appraisal was preliminary or not, Eric says he doesn’t recall. When asked about the termination of the Cushman & Wakefield engagement as shown in a 2014 email with Ms Dillon, Eric says: “I have very little recollection of all of this.”

Minnesota ballot trial: What is an insurrection?

Thursday 2 November 2023 19:18 , Oliver O'Connell

During oral arguments before the Minnesota Supreme Court on Thursday, the justices returned to a question at the centre of an effort to remove Donald Trump from the 2024 ballot: What is an insurrection?

But for the justices weighing whether to apply Section 3 – dubbed the “insurrection clause” – of the 14th Amendment to Mr Trump’s election eligibility, it requires pinpointing who gets to define an insurrection and when one occurs.

Section 3 of the 14th Amendment contains a Civil War-era provision that disqualifies a person from holding office if they “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” after taking the oath of office. However, it does not define insurrection or what it means to engage in one.

Voters in Minnesota have asked the secretary of state to remove Mr Trump from the ballot before the North Star State’s primary on 5 March. They claim the ex-president “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” for his efforts that led to an angry mob interrupting Congress’ election certification vote on January 6, 2021.

Ariana Baio reports.

Effort to remove Trump from ballot raises question: What is an insurrection?

Thursday 2 November 2023 19:07 , Oliver O'Connell

Questioning moves on to the Seven Springs project in Westchester County, New York, that the attorney general claims Eric Trump was deeply involved in and took the lead within the family and company to the point that at various times from 2011 to 2015 he spent time living at the property.

Thursday 2 November 2023 18:44 , Oliver O'Connell

The court is now shown Eric Trump’s taped deposition, in which he said he “knew virtually nothing” about statements of financial condition, and has “no recollection of providing Jeff with any material” for those statements.

“It’s very accurate for what I’m saying right now,” Eric says from the bench.

The attorney general’s office then pulls up a 2013 email, from fellow defendant Jeff McConney, about “your dad’s annual financial statement”.

Amer asks Eric, after reviewing the emails, whether he will concede the fact he was “very familiar” with his dad’s financial statements.

“No, I was not very familiar with my father’s financial statements,” Eric says.

Eric Trump on tape: “It’s just not something I got involved in … I knew nothing, or next to nothing, about the [statements of financial condition]. I never worked on it. I’m confident I didn’t know conversations or questions … were being used for that. I was responsible for building properties and pouring concrete. This was just not in my domain.”

He stands by that.

NY fraud trial: Eric Trump continues testimony

Thursday 2 November 2023 18:33 , Oliver O'Connell

Alex Woodward reports from the New York State Courthouse in Lower Manhattan as Eric Trump’s testimony continues:

Eric Trump is asked again about his correspondence with former Trump Organization executive Jeff McConney.

He argues that just because they were talking about finances or financial documents that didn’t mean they were discussing his father’s statement of financial condition. That’s where “we’re getting tripped up,” Eric says.

The court is shown a 2015 email from Allen Weisselberg to Eric mentioning “your dad’s annual financial statement”.

George Santos escapes GOP bid to have him expelled from House

Thursday 2 November 2023 18:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Embattled US congressman George Santos has escaped a bid by members of his own party to have him expelled from the House of Representatives.

Mr Santos’ fellow GOP lawmakers in the New York delegation have argued his past lies and embellishments about his personal history make him unfit for office.

The resolution needed a two-thirds majority to succeed, but fell well short.

The resolution to expel Mr Santos was issued last week by Republican lawmaker Anthony D’Esposito.

Presenting his request to the House Mr D’Esposito highlighted Mr Santos’s “history of misrepresenting his and his family’s connections to major events, including the Holocaust, 9/11 terrorist attacks, and the Pulse nightclub shooting”.

Mike Bedigan has the story.

Scandal-dogged George Santos escapes GOP bid to have him expelled from House

Meanwhile, on Truth Social...

Thursday 2 November 2023 18:18 , Oliver O'Connell

As his eldest sons testify in court, Donald Trump has continued to attack “wacko” Judge Arthur Engoron on Truth Social for “hurting my very good children” and former lawyer Michael Cohen for his testimony, saying that the “whole case was based on this single LOSER, so it should be dismissed!”

Here’s the full post:

When Judge Arthur Engoron, one of the most overturned, on Appeal, Judges on the “bench,” stated that a Billion Dollar House is only worth 18 Million Dollars, & made numerous other mistakes, as well, he is the “Fraudster,” not me - He is just doing this out of his personal “Hatred of TRUMP,” his love of the publicity that this case is getting him, & his lack of respect for the Appeals Court (He is in total violation of their order ending much of this Witch Hunt right now. He refuses to do what they say he must!). Engoron is a wacko who is having a great time endlessly sanctioning, fining, & pushing around “TRUMP,” hurting my very good children, & working to damage & defame me for purposes of Interfering with the 2024 Presidential Election, all this while never admonishing our failed & corrupt Attorney General, whose “Star Witness” admitted he lied, & that I did NOT tell him to inflate values, a total reversal. Their whole case was based on this single LOSER, so it should be dismissed!

Obviously, the former president wasn’t done there and then lashed out at the media:

The Television Reporting of the Biden Opponent Trial going on now in Manhattan is disgraceful. We have won virtually every single point, and it turned out that the publicity seeking Judge is the Fraud for saying that a Billion Dollar house is worth only $18,000,000, and for disregarding the Appeals Court decision against his actions. However, if you only listen to Fake News CNN or MSDNC, you will never hear the TRUTH!

Recap: Why are Trump’s children testifying at the New York civil fraud trial?

Thursday 2 November 2023 18:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Manhattan in October as his civil fraud case came to trial at the state’s Supreme Court.

New York Attorney General Letitia James brought the case against the Trump Organization regarding the business’s statements to obtain better terms on loans and insurance from financial institutions.

The case focuses on the years between 2011 and 2021 and involves falsified financial statements regarding the development of several real estate projects and inflating Mr Trump’s net worth in order to get better financing terms from banks and insurance companies.

This was done by over-stating valuations of the former president’s most prestigious holdings including his triplex penthouse at Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan and his current home at the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida.

Their entire New York real estate empire is already in peril after a pre-trial ruling included the cancellation of their business licences in the state.

As the prosecution’s case draws to a close, three of his adult children are taking the stand to testify under oath.

So how are three of his adult children wrapped up in all this and why are they testifying at the trial?

Why are Trump’s children testifying at New York civil fraud trial?

Marjorie Taylor Greene blasts fellow GOP members who vetoed Rashida Tlaib censure

Thursday 2 November 2023 18:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Marjorie Taylor Greene furiously took to social media to publish a list of the “feckless” members of her own party who had helped block her efforts to censure Democrat Rashida Tlaib.

The House rejected the resolution late on Wednesday, scrapping the Republican firebrand’s attempt to condemn the only Palestinian-American in Congress over her recent rhetoric around the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

Censure is a punishment for members of the House one step below expulsion. Right-wing congresswoman and conspiracy theorist Ms Greene – who has herself faced efforts to censure her and has been accused of antisemitism – had sponsored efforts against Ms Tlaib.

Mike Bedigan has the story.

Marjorie Taylor Greene blasts ‘feckless Republicans’ who vetoed Rashida Tlaib censure

Trump and Haley mock DeSantis over heels

Thursday 2 November 2023 17:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Few things unite political rivals more than rounding on a mutual adversary and Donald Trump and Nikki Haley have found common ground in mocking fellow 2024 Republican primary candidate Ron DeSantis over rumours he wears height-boosting show lifts.

The former president’s team have tagged their efforts at taking down the Florida governor as #BootGate:

Trump super PAC mocks DeSantis in heel-wearing gimmick

Whereas the former UN Ambassador and South Carolina governor said of her own use of high heels shoes: “I’ve always said don’t wear ‘em if you can’t run in ‘em so we’ll see if he can run in them.”

Nikki Haley mocks Ron DeSantis over height-boosting heel rumors

Trump 2024 disqualification hearing reaches far back into history

Thursday 2 November 2023 17:20 , AP

The effort to ban former President Donald Trump from the ballot under the Constitution’s “insurrection clause” turned to distant history on Wednesday, when a law professor testified about how the post-Civil War provision was indeed intended to apply to presidential candidates.

Gerard Magliocca, of Indiana University, said there was scant scholarship on Section Three of the 14th Amendment when he began researching it in late 2020. He testified that he uncovered evidence in 150-year-old court rulings, congressional testimony and presidential executive orders that it applied to presidents and to those who simply encouraged an insurrection rather than physically participated in one.

Magliocca didn’t mention Trump by name, but the plaintiffs in the case have argued that Colorado must ban him from the ballot because of his role in the 6 January 2021, assault on the US Capitol, which was intended to halt Congress’ certification of Joe Biden’s win and keep Trump in power, falls under the provision. The section originally was designed to prevent former Confederates from returning to their old federal and state jobs and taking over the government.

Read more...

Thursday 2 November 2023 16:54 , Oliver O'Connell

However, Amer then brings up another email, this time from McConney to Eric, with the subject line “DJT f/s”.

That means Donald J Trump’s financial statement, Eric agrees.

“I’m working on the notes for Mr Trump’s annual financial statement,” McConney writes. He was looking for “any major construction work” on golf courses.

“Something short and sweet is all I need. Thanks in advance for your help.”

Eric gets a little heated when Amer presses him about his denial of any knowledge about financial statements.

“We’re a massive real estate organisation,” he says. “Yes, I’m fairly certain we have financial statements. Absolutely.”

“I had no involvement, never worked...on my father’s statements of financial condition,” Eric says.

Trump defence lawyer Alina Habba objects to the questioning, saying that Amer has mischaracterised Eric’s testimony. She says he had nothing to do with them, not that he didn’t know what they were...

Court breaks for lunch.

Thursday 2 November 2023 16:42 , Oliver O'Connell

Eric (and Donald Jr) have repeatedly denied their involvement with statements of financial condition.

We see an email from August 2013 about his father’s annual financial statement, with an attached spreadsheet.

“It’s absolutely what it says, yes,” Eric said.

“So you’ve seen portions of [Jeff] McConney’s spreadsheet at the time he was working on it, right?” Amer asked.

“It appears that way, yes,” Eric replied.

(McConney was asking for help with the Seven Springs valuation)

So, synthesising all the stuff we just saw, Amer asks Eric if “it’s an undeniable fact” that when Eric and McConney had a call about Seven Springs, he knew his father had an annual financial statement, believed his father had the “financial wherewithal” for projects, and that McConney was asking for help with a valuation.

“It’s just incorrect,” Eric replies.

Thursday 2 November 2023 16:26 , Oliver O'Connell

Now we’re seeing an email to co-defendant Allen Weisselberg, cc’ing Eric, from February 2012, about the Trumps’ offer to buy Point Lake and Golf Club in North Carolina, the subject of the financial documents we were looking at just now.

“Thank you again for taking the time to meet with me today and answer my questions,” the email from Phil Delk states. He apparently was on his way to LaGuardia after meeting with them at Trump Tower.

“I was involved in negotiating [aspects] of this deal,” Eric says, adding later that he was one of the key people on the Trump side involved in negotiations.

Another email, this time from Eric to Phil Delk about the club, states that the financial due diligence statement was “bound by confidentiality” and that “we have financial wherewithal to purchase, renovate and operate this asset.”

That deal involved Delk coming to New York, where he signed an NDA, and Eric wrote that he wasn’t supposed to circulate the financial statement to other members.

But Eric’s testimony today is: “As to what financials he was looking at, I do not know.”

Thursday 2 November 2023 16:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Alex Woodward reports from the courtroom:

New York Attorney General’s counsel Andrew Amer showed Eric Trump a document concerning the Trump Organization’s Seven Springs property in Westchester County, New York.

Amer tries to nail down an answer as to whether Eric was ever involved with the property’s valuation in statements of financial condition, which he said he didn’t have anything to do with.

He asks him directly if he had any calls about it, adding: “I appreciate how memories fade.”

The document includes an item noting a 30 June 2012 “telephone conversation with Eric Trump”.

Eric insists he “never had anything to do with the statements of financial condition”.

He also notes he was only “26 years old” at the time.

A 2012 document described as “a financial statement prepared by a CPA firm reflecting Donald Trump’s net worth” is shown to the court.

Eric doesn’t want to “speculate” what that is.

Amer repeatedly tries to nail down an answer: “You’re not in a position to recognise the document here as a statement of your father’s financial condition?”

He adds: “Is your testimony, sir, that you are not able to confirm in your own mind that what is referred to here is your father’s statement of financial condition?”

Not getting much more out of Eric from that.

Size does matter in ‘Trump too small’ t-shirt Supreme Court case

Thursday 2 November 2023 16:00 , Oliver O'Connell

How small are Donald Trump’s hands?

Apparently, small enough to warrant selling t-shirts mocking them but too big to trademark – at least that’s the gist of the argument the US government is making in the Supreme Court case Vidal v Elster.

In a case with a highly unusual backstory, the nine justices are being asked to decide if a section of US trademark law that prohibits trademarking a person’s name without their consent is actually a violation of the First Amendment.

More specifically, they’re talking about the phrase: “TRUMP TOO SMALL”.

Ariana Baio reports on a case that probably doesn’t thrill the former president.

‘Trump too small’ t-shirt Supreme Court case shows size does matter

Thursday 2 November 2023 15:53 , Oliver O'Connell

Alex Woodward reports:

Counsel with the New York Attorney General’s office asks Eric Trump whether it’s fair to say that the Trump Organization hierarchy up to 2017 was “like a pyramid” with his father at the top.

“My father is the owner of the business, yes,” he said.

That wasn’t my question, counsel stated. Was it like a pyramid with Trump at the top?

“Yes,” he said. “I worked with many people but ultimately reported to my father.”

Eric Trump saw day-to-day operations at the Trump Organization when his father entered office, while his brother signed on as trustee of the revocable trust to manage his assets.

NY fraud trial: Eric Trump takes the stand

Thursday 2 November 2023 15:47 , Oliver O'Connell

Following his older brother’s testimony, Eric Trump has now taken the stand in the Trump Organization New York civil fraud trial at the state’s Supreme Court in Lower Manhattan.

Judge Engoron quips again: “Does everybody have their makeup on?”

NY fraud trial: Judge cuts to chase over Don Jr role

Thursday 2 November 2023 15:38 , Oliver O'Connell

Alex Woodward reports :

Following the mid-morning break, the trial resumes with prosecution counsel Colleen Faherty is asking Trump Jr if he reviewed or directed anyone to review the statements of financial condition or the work of Allen Weisselberg and Jeff McConney after learning of the New York Attorney General’s investigation.

“I imagine I would have spoken to counsel,” he said when asked if he performed any “internal inquiries” when he learned about the probe. “I don’t recall necessarily speaking with counsel but I’m sure I would have.”

Did he direct others to do so?

“Again, anything would have been done through counsel,” he said.

Has the Trump Organization made any changes after learning about the investigation?

Yes, he said, there have been some “policy changes” but they were “done through counsel so I can’t get into” the specifics, Trump Jr said.

Judge Engoron took the opportunity during objections in the back and forth to cut to the chase:

“Mr Trump, did you have anything to do with the statements of financial condition?”

“No, I did not Your Honour.”

Trump Jr is then asked about the appointment of Mark Hawthorn as the Trump Organization’s CFO.

He said he’s not sure what date he started.

Is there a specific event you recall that occurred with the change of title?

“I guess, Allen Weisselberg not being in that position anymore,” Trumpr Jr said.

And that appears to be the final question for Donald Trump Jr. There will be no cross-examination.

Trump (Sr) pipes up on Truth Social

Thursday 2 November 2023 15:22 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump has posted his latest regurgitation of grievances concerning the trial on Truth Social:

The RIGGED Trial being “presided” over in Manhattan, without a jury allowed, by a TRUMP HATING, RADICAL LEFT, DEMOCRAT OPERATIVE JUDGE, has shown conclusively that the Trump Organization is Financially Strong, Powerful, Very Liquid, AND HAS DONE NOTHING WRONG. This Election Interference case, brought by Racist and Corrupt Attorney General Peekaboo James, in close coordination with Crooked Joe Biden and Washington, D.C., Fascists, Marxists, and Communists, is a disgrace. With ZERO evidence, and before the Trial even started, the Judge, Arthur Engoron, ruled viciously against me. He stated strongly that a Billion Dollar House was worth only $18,000,000. Likewise, but to a lesser extent, he did this with other properties, also. The A.G. laughed at him! This is a great Miscarriage of Justice, and while they want to settle, why should I be forced to settle when I did nothing wrong? The State should focus on reducing Taxes, fighting Violent Crime, & keeping businesses from leaving New York!

NY fraud trial: Don Jr repeatedly signed off on false statements

Thursday 2 November 2023 15:17 , Oliver O'Connell

The implication of much of this morning’s questioning from the prosecution is that Donald Trump Jr, as the signatory on statements of financial condition, appraisals and other documents, is therefore liable for fraud and making false statements as the underlying numbers were false.

Mr Trump Jr is arguing that he was going through the motions and trusted the accountants and lawyers who prepared the documents.

Alex Woodward reports:

We’re seeing documents about Trump Ferry Point LLC, the New York golf course.

Asked how much he made on that deal, which bears his signature on behalf of Trump Ferry Point LLC, Donald Jr said “I didn’t make any.”

How much did Trump Ferry Point LLC make?

$60m, but “I’m not sure how much for profit, he said.

That deal happened this year. The lawsuit was filed a year ago. Trump’s attorneys objected to this line of questioning.

Again, it’s Don Jr et al supporting the fraudulent statements of financial condition that went into that deal, among others, according to the New York Attorney General’s office. The Ferry Point case involves what is ostensibly a public-private deal involving the City of New York in which the Trumps made millions off a public park.

Court takes its mid-morning break.

Jack Smith’s team respond to Trump attempts to delay federal cases

Thursday 2 November 2023 15:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Jack Smith’s team has responded to Donald Trump’s attempts to delay both of his federal cases — the classified documents case in Florida and the election interference case in Washington, DC.

“As the Government argued to the Court yesterday, the trial date in the District of Columbia case should not be a determinative factor in the Court’s decision whether to modify the dates in this matter.

“Defendant Trump’s actions in the hours following the hearing in this case illustrate the point and confirm his overriding interest in delaying both trials at any cost. This Court should allow itself to be manipulated in this fashion.”

Here’s our coverage of the former president’s attempt to delay the federal case against him in Florida:

Trump-appointed judge hints she may delay classified documents trial

Thursday 2 November 2023 14:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Shown a letter to Deutsche Bank in 2017, Don Jr is asked whether he signed off on a certification of a statement of financial condition “intending” that the bank would rely on it. The bank was one of the Trump Organization’s chief lenders.

“I would be fine relying on it but I don’t know what their ‘intent’ is,” he said.

After some back-and-forth attempts to clarify what he means, the judge intervenes: “It’s your intent she’s asking about.”

“Then I’m not sure I understand. I’m fine with the bank relying on that information,” Trump Jr replied. “I don’t know if I intended the bank doing anything, I’m fine with them relying on it.”

Thursday 2 November 2023 14:27 , Oliver O'Connell

One week after his “insane amount of stuff email,” the Trump Organization wrote a letter to Mazars for a statement of financial condition.

Donald Trump Jr is shown a letter from the Trump Organization to Mazars that includes several disclaimers to the truth of the contents inside.

Don Jr gets worked up repeatedly stating that he relied on accountants to give them accurate information.

“Every decision I made was based on information I got from Mazars,” Don Jr said. “They were intimately involved with every aspect … for purposes of accounting I rely on accountants.”

He’s now being shown another 2017 document that speaks to the veracity of a 2016 statement of financial condition.

He signed that document as an “attorney in fact”. What does that mean?

“I guess I’m functioning as an attorney for my father as per I guess whatever the lawyers structured for me at the time,” he said.

Asked if that is the case for all years, he said: “Rinse and repeat.”

Note: Donald Trump Jr was the trustee of his father’s revocable trust that managed his assets while he was in office.

The statements of financial condition were sent and prepared under the direction of the trustee. Donald Jr continues to insist he had no involvement whatsoever and relied on the “expertise” of the accountants who prepared them.

NY fraud trial: Don Jr continues testimony

Thursday 2 November 2023 14:18 , Oliver O'Connell

After Donald Trump Jr’s quip yesterday that he should have worn makeup for his court appearance, Judge Arthur Engoron begins proceedings by jokingly asking: “Off the record, Donald Jr, yesterday you said you forgot your makeup, did you remember today?”

Questioning continues as Alex Woodward reports:

Donald Trump Jr, once again, says that he doesn’t know anything about a statement of financial condition.

Colleen Faherty with the attorney general’s office is now showing him an email that was not previously introduced into evidence: a 2017 message concerning a fact-checking from Forbes.

That message was forwarded to Donald Jr and Eric Trump as well as Allen Weisselberg and a Trump Organization marketing employee.

“Insane amount of stuff there,” Trump Jr wrote in the email.

He testified that he does not recall receiving the message.

What if any fact-checking did he do?

“I don’t know that I did any,” he said. “I don’t know that I would spend hundreds of questions worth of time answering Forbes.”

Colorado 14th Amendment trial: Kash Patel denies claim ex-president chose not to call National Guard

Thursday 2 November 2023 14:10 , Oliver O'Connell

A former Donald Trump administration official has denied that the ex-president chose not to summon the National Guard during the January 6 insurrection.

Kash Patel, the former administration official, was present as a Trump witness on Wednesday for a potentially significant hearing taking place in Colorado. The trial will determine whether Mr Trump is eligible to run for the 2024 presidential ballot based on the 14th Amendment.

Mr Patel was the chief of staff to acting defence secretary Christopher Miller during the events of 6 January.

The former Trump administration official and right-wing activist denied allegations that the former president obstructed the authorisation of the National Guard’s deployment.

Maroosha Muzaffar has the story.

Trump aide denies claim ex-president chose not to call National Guard during Jan 6

NY fraud trial: What to expect today

Thursday 2 November 2023 13:52 , Oliver O'Connell

Alex Woodward reports from the New York State Supreme Court in Lower Manhattan:

It’s the 22nd day of a civil trial in a lower Manhattan courtroom targeting Donald Trump for fraud, and the former president still hasn’t stopped falsely claiming that the 2020 election was stolen from him.

But days before he left the White House in January 2021, roughly two weeks after a mob of his supporters stormed the US Capitol to keep him in power, he signed a document that signalled his plan to return to his business as usual.

A document shown by counsel for New York Attorney General Letitia James on 1 November in a trial stemming from her lawsuit targeting the Trump family business shows that then-President Trump transferred control of a trust – which was handled by his oldest son Donald Trump Jr while he was in the White House — back to himself on 15 January, 2021.

The trial in Lower Manhattan concerns what damages, if any, the former president, his adult sons and chief associates could be on the hook for after a judge found them liable for defrauding banks and insurers by inflating wealth and assets over a decade to obtain favourable financial benefits.

But the piece of evidence shown to Donald Trump Jr while he stood on the witness stand on Wednesday could also come into play in two separate criminal cases targeting Mr Trump’s alleged attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, which prosecutors argue he knew the truth of the outcome.

It was another wrinkle that revealed the former president’s overlapping mountain of civil and criminal litigation. At one point during Wednesday’s trial, Trump attorney Christopher Kise had to leave the courtroom to call into a separate hearing; he’s also representing the former president in his classified documents case in a federal court in Florida.

Donald Jr will return to the witness stand on Thursday morning to resume questioning from attorneys for Ms James. He has repeatedly denied any direct involvement with the crafting of his father’s annual statements of financial condition — the documents at the centre of the case — and has pinned the blame on the accountants he said he trusted with them.

It’s a theme that will likely continue in his testimony, and testimony from his brother Eric Trump, who is also expected to take the stand this week.

Their father is scheduled to testify on Monday.

All of them are co-defendants in the case.

Ivanka Trump, who successfully got herself removed as a defendant earlier this year, will testify next Wednesday.

Watch LIVE: New York fraud trial to get underway momentarily

Thursday 2 November 2023 13:49 , Oliver O'Connell

NY fraud trial: ‘I should have worn make-up’ — what happened in court on Wednesday?

Thursday 2 November 2023 13:47 , Oliver O'Connell

Alex Woodward reports from the New York State Supreme Court in Lower Manhattan:

Donald Trump Jr stepped into the witness stand on Wednesday in a $250m civil fraud trial in New York stemming from a blockbuster lawsuit that threatens the Trump family business and its vast real-estate empire.

As the judge allowed photographers to take pictures of the former president’s oldest son, he quipped: “I should have worn make-up.”

Donald Jr, in a dark blue suit and pink tie, is the first among his children to testify in the trial, now in the middle of its fifth week, resuming inside a Manhattan courtroom on 1 November.

Before he took office in January 2017, then-President-elect Trump named his sons Donald Jr and Eric to run his company.

Seven years later, the former president and his two oldest sons are co-defendants in a case that could collapse the family business. Eric Trump also is scheduled to testify this week. Mr Trump will take the stand on 6 November.

Continued...

Donald Trump Jr quips he ‘should have worn make-up’ in NY fraud trial

Trump-appointed judge hints she may delay classified documents trial

Thursday 2 November 2023 13:40 , Oliver O'Connell

The Donald Trump-appointed judge overseeing the criminal case into his handling of classified documents has now hinted that she may delay the trial – after the former president’s legal team claimed it would take 10 years to go through all the evidence in the case.

In a court hearing in Florida on Wednesday, US District Judge Aileen Cannon – who has repeatedly sided with Mr Trump since being handed the case – cast doubts on it being realistic that the trial can go ahead as planned in May.

“I’m having a hard time seeing how this work can be accomplished realistically in this period of time,” she said.

She also appeared to scold prosecutors, saying that they lacked “a level of understanding to these realities” around the current timeline.

Rachel Sharp reports.

Trump-appointed judge hints she may delay classified documents trial

In depth: Could a Colorado judge remove Trump from the ballot?

Thursday 2 November 2023 13:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s future on the presidential ballot in Colorado could be decided in a courtroom.

A weeklong hearing in Denver could determine whether the former president’s actions surrounding the attack on the US Capitol on 6 January, 2021 and his attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election violate the 14th Amendment and disqualify him from running again in the state.

The 14 Amendment, adopted in the aftermath of the US Civil War, prohibits anyone who has sworn an oath to uphold the constitution — including elected officials — and who “engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof” from holding office in the future.

A lawsuit filed by a group of Republican voters and a government watchdog group argues that Mr Trump has “failed” that test and rendered him “constitutionally ineligible to appear on any Colorado ballot as a candidate for federal or state office”.

Alex Woodward looks at the details.

Will a Colorado judge remove Donald Trump from the ballot?

All of Trump’s criminal charges and lawsuits and where they currently stand

Thursday 2 November 2023 13:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump is facing criminal cases in jurisdictions up and down the East coast of the US, from Washinton to Florida, New York to Georgia, any of which could land him in prison.

Josh Marcus breaks down each case for The Independent.

Tracking Trump’s criminal charges and lawsuits - and where they stand

Trump already accusing his 2024 GOP rivals of cheating

Thursday 2 November 2023 13:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Although more than three months remain before the 2024 Iowa caucus kicks into gear, former President Donald Trump has already begun accusing his political rivals of cheating.

In a video posted on the Republican frontrunner’s Instagram page on Tuesday evening, Mr Trump said, “You know the other side does cheat, and we’re not gonna let that happen.”

He encouraged Iowa caucus-goers to “do whatever is necessary” on 15 January to “make America great again.”

“If you do, we will win. We will win big and that’s what you have to do,” the former president added.

Mr Trump is no stranger to bogus election fraud claims.

Kelly Rissman reports.

Trump is already accusing his 2024 rivals of cheating

Don Jr testifies in New York fraud trial

Thursday 2 November 2023 12:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump Jr has stepped into the witness stand in a civil fraud trial in New York stemming from a blockbuster lawsuit that threatens the Trump family business and its vast real-estate empire.

The former president’s oldest son, in a dark blue suit and pink tie, is the first among his children to testify in the trial, now in the middle of its fifth week inside a Manhattan courtroom on 1 November.

Before he took office in January 2017, then-President-elect Trump named his sons Donald Jr and Eric to run his company.

Seven years later, the former president and his two oldest sons are co-defendants in a case that could collapse the family business. Eric Trump also is scheduled to testify this week. Mr Trump will take the stand on 6 November.

Alex Woodward is covering the trial from within the courtroom and filed this report.

Donald Trump Jr testifies in New York fraud trial

Daily Show audience jeers as Nancy Mace defends Trump

Thursday 2 November 2023 12:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Rep Nancy Mace faced the scorn of the Daily Show audience after host Charlamagne tha God asked if she believed the mounting evidence against former President Donald Trump following the four criminal indictments against him handed down this year.

“Which evidence?” she asked on Monday, prompting laughter and jeers from the studio audience. “Which indictment, which one?”

The host was asking about the Georgia election interference case in which multiple former Trump lawyers have pleaded guilty.

The South Carolina Republican said she hadn’t “seen the evidence yet”.

Read more...

ICYMI: Trump trolled with supercut of his latest gaffes

Thursday 2 November 2023 12:00 , Oliver O'Connell

MSNBC’s Morning Joe broadcast a devastating supercut of former President Donald Trump’s latest campaign gaffes.

Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough, a former GOP Florida congressman, said: “He’s lost. That’s some of Donald Trump’s greatest hits on foreign policy.”

Mr Scarborough noted that the short video excluded a number of other gaffes by Mr Trump.

But the host added that President Joe Biden is also gaffe-prone.

“They’re both old men, and they’re both doing it,” he said.

‘Morning Joe’ trolls Trump with supercut of his latest gaffes

GOP lawmaker Ken Buck cites 2020 lies and Jan 6 as he says he won’t seek re-election

Thursday 2 November 2023 11:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Rep Ken Buck (R-CO), an archconservative Republican who voted to remove Kevin McCarthy as speaker of the House, announced he would not seek re-election.

Mr Buck spoke to MSNBC host Andrea Mitchell and cited lies about the 2020 presidential election and January 6, pushed by the GOP, as a reason he would not run for another term.

Mr Buck’s announcement comes the same day that House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Kay Granger announced she would not run for re-election.

Eric Garcia reports from Capitol Hill.

GOP lawmaker Ken Buck cites 2020 lies and Jan 6 as he says he won’t seek re-election

Trump could have defended Capitol on Jan 6, 2024 Colorado ballot trial hears

Thursday 2 November 2023 11:00 , AP

Then-president Donald Trump could have mobilized the National Guard and other federal agencies to protect the US Capitol once violence broke out on 6 January 2021, a law professor testified on Tuesday as a case to bar the former president from the 2024 ballot moved into a new phase.

William Banks, a Syracuse University law professor and expert in national security law, said that once the attack on the Capitol began, Mr Trump had options he did not use.

“He should respond to his constitutional responsibilities to protect the security of the United States when there’s an assault on our democratic process,” Mr Banks said of Mr Trump.

Mr Banks was testifying as a witness for a group of Colorado voters who want to bar the former president from the ballot for allegedly violating his oath to uphold the Constitution in his attempt to overturn his 2020 election loss. They cite a rarely used clause in the 14th Amendment, adopted just after the Civil War, that prohibits those who “engaged in insurrection” against the Constitution from holding higher office.

Continued...

ICYMI: Trump warns judge ‘leave my children alone’

Thursday 2 November 2023 10:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump lashed out at the judge in his New York fraud trial, urging him to “leave my children alone” ahead of testimony by his sons Donald Jr and Eric Trump.

“This Rigged Trial, brought by the Racist New York State AG Letitia James before Trump and developer Hating Judge, Arthur Engoron, which should have never been brought in that the so-called STAR WITNESS, SleazeBag Lawyer (for many people) Michael Cohen, admitted last week on the stand that he LIED, and also that your favorite President, Donald J Trump, or anyone from the Trump Organization, NEVER TOLD HIM TO INFLATE VALUES ON FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, the opposite of what he told the AG in order to get this HOAX started,” Mr Trump wrote in a Truth Social rant published just before 2.30am ET in the early hours of Wednesday.

Read more...

Trump warns judge ‘leave my children alone’ as Don Jr to testify

Kinzinger says family disowned him for criticising Trump

Thursday 2 November 2023 09:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Former Congressman Adam Kinzinger, a Republican and vocal critic of Donald Trump, said some family members disowned him for pushing back against the former president.

He said his angry relatives believed he was a part of the “devil’s army.”

“So, I had family that sent a certified letter disowning me,” Mr Kinzinger told CNN‘s Anderson Cooper. “They said I’ve lost the trust of great men like Sean Hannity, which is funny, but they believe that. They said I was a member of the devil’s army.”

Mr Kinzinger served in Congress between 2011 and 2023.

Graig Graziosi reports.

Ex-Republican lawmaker says family disowned him for criticising Trump

Trump takes legal action to keep his name on 2024 Michigan ballot

Thursday 2 November 2023 08:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has filed suit against Michigan’s secretary of state as he hopes to thwart a growing left-leaning legal movement aimed at blocking him from appearing on the 2024 ballot.

The effort, which draws its legal grounds from the 14th Amendment’s ban on supporters of a rebellion or insurrection from taking part in elected office, is a historic effort which could seriously challenge Mr Trump’s ability to win the Electoral College were it to succeed in even a single state.

Mr Trump is facing lawsuits aimed at blocking him from the ballot in a number of states, several of which were filed by the Washington-based ethics watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). The Michigan suit, filed on Monday and first reported by The Detroit News, comes despite the Democratic secretary of state, Jocelyn Benson, stating that she would allow Mr Trump to be on the ballot unless a court were to intervene and prevent it.

Read more...

Former White House lawyer predicts judge will jail Trump over gag order breach

Thursday 2 November 2023 06:30 , Oliver O'Connell

A lawyer who formerly represented Donald Trump has made a stunning prediction: his former client may well be jailed over violations of his gag orders.

Ty Cobb, a former White House attorney who defended Mr Trump during the Mueller investigation, told CNN that he believes Mr Trump will continue violating his gag orders in two ongoing trials unless either judge decides to jail him in response — a possibility he sees as likely.

Now a privately-practising attorney, Mr Cobb was a White House counsel from 2017-2018. He defended Mr Trump during the investigation into connections between his 2016 campaign and Russian operatives, a case whose merits he later defended despite Mr Trump deriding it as a “witch hunt”.

Ex-Trump White House lawyer predicts judge will jail him over gag order breach

Trump is already accusing his 2024 rivals of cheating

Thursday 2 November 2023 05:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Although more than three months remain before the 2024 Iowa caucus kicks into gear, former President Donald Trump has already begun accusing his political rivals of cheating.

In a video posted on the Republican frontrunner’s Instagram page on Tuesday evening, Mr Trump said, “You know the other side does cheat, and we’re not gonna let that happen.”

He encouraged Iowa caucus-goers to “do whatever is necessary” on 15 January to “make America great again.”

“If you do, we will win. We will win big and that’s what you have to do,” the former president added.

Mr Trump is no stranger to bogus election fraud claims.

He has frequently alleged that the 2020 election he lost to President Joe Biden was “stolen” and “rigged.” For the 2020 Arizona state count, he claimed that “over 36,000 ballots were illegally cast by non-citizens.” Similarly, in Pennsylvania, he said more than 1 million votes “were created out of thin air.”

READ MORE:

Trump is already accusing his 2024 rivals of cheating

Years after his Trump University ‘sham’ cost him $25m, ex-president floats 'American Academy’ idea

Thursday 2 November 2023 03:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Despite agreeing to a $25m settlement after the New York Attorney General accused Trump University of deception and fraud, former President Donald Trump has floated a plan to launch a new institution: American Academy.

Mr Trump made the announcement in a new video on Truth Social on Wednesday, and cited campus reactions to the Israel-Hamas war as evidence of the need for a new college experience.

“In recent weeks, Americans have been horrified to see students and faculty at Harvard and other once-respected universities expressing support for the savages and jihadists who attacked Israel,” Mr Trump said. “We spend more money on higher education than any other country—and yet, they’re turning our students into Communists and terrorist sympathizers of many, many different dimensions.”

Read Trump’s plan here.

Can Trump really still run for president after four indictments?

Thursday 2 November 2023 02:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump is now the subject of four criminal cases at a time when he is also hot on the trail of another stint in the White House.

The former president was indicted for a fourth time in Georgia on 14 August – less than a month after Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith unveiled federal charges against him for his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

With a total of 91 charges, several co-defendants entering guilty pleas, and at least two other non-criminal cases underway, can he really still run in 2024?

Can Donald Trump still run for president after four indictments?

Chilling voicemail threats against Georgia prosecutors revealed

Thursday 2 November 2023 01:00 , Oliver O'Connell

An Alabama man has been charged with making threatening voicemails to Fulton County officials in Georgia relating to Donald Trump’s Georgia election subversion case.

Arthur Ray Hanson II was indicted by a federal grand jury in Atlanta on 25 October on felony charges of transmitting interstate threats to injure Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat, according to the US Attorney’s office in the Northern District of Georgia.

According to US Attorney Ryan Buchanan, Mr Hanson, a resident of Huntsville, Alabama, called the Fulton County government customer service line twice in August and left voicemails in which he threatened violence against the officials.

Read the full story

Poll: Haley doubles DeSantis’s numbers but still trails Trump in South Carolina

Thursday 2 November 2023 00:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Nikki Haley has clearly taken second place in the 2024 GOP race, but remains a distant threat to Donald Trump in South Carolina, according to a new poll of the early primary state conducted by CNN/SRSS.

Ms Haley previously served as the state’s governor, and made a name for herself there as an early adopter of the conservative culture war agenda while also winning support from some Democrats for her response to a massacre at a historic Black church. As a presidential candidate, she has battled Ron DeSantis for the runner-up slot for months, and appears to have some momentum behind her campaign while the Florida governor slips in some polling.

At the same time, however, Donald Trump has seen his support grow, not shrink, while he remains the clear frontrunner for the nomination.

John Bowden reports.

Will Trump go to prison?

Thursday 2 November 2023 00:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump faces four criminal indictments in three separate jurisdictions. Nearly 100 felony criminal charges are leveled against the former president, who remains the odds-on favourite to win the 2024 Republican primary.

As his legal battles grow more complex by the day, a serious question has emerged: Whether Mr Trump will win the nomination and campaign for the general election as a convicted criminal.

That possibility, in turn, raises another, simpler question: Will the 45th President of the United States go to prison?

John Bowden reports.

Will Donald Trump go to prison?

Full story: Donald Trump Jr testifies in New York fraud trial

Wednesday 1 November 2023 23:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump Jr has stepped into the witness stand in a civil fraud trial in New York stemming from a blockbuster lawsuit that threatens the Trump family business and its vast real-estate empire.

The former president’s oldest son, in a dark blue suit and pink tie, is the first among his children to testify in the trial, now in the middle of its fifth week inside a Manhattan courtroom on 1 November.

Before he took office in January 2017, then-President-elect Trump named his sons Donald Jr and Eric to run his company.

Seven years later, the former president and his two oldest sons are co-defendants in a case that could collapse the family business. Eric Trump also is scheduled to testify this week. Mr Trump will take the stand on 6 November.

Alex Woodward reports.

Donald Trump Jr testifies in New York fraud trial

Today at the New York State Supreme Court - in courtroom sketches

Wednesday 1 November 2023 22:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Where do all of Trump’s criminal lawsuits currently stand?

Wednesday 1 November 2023 22:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump is facing criminal cases in jurisdictions up and down the East coast of the US, from Washinton to Florida, New York to Georgia, any of which could land him in prison.

Josh Marcus breaks down each case for The Independent.

Tracking Trump’s criminal charges and lawsuits - and where they stand

US Election 2024: Trump already accusing his GOP rivals of cheating

Wednesday 1 November 2023 21:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Although more than three months remain before the 2024 Iowa caucus kicks into gear, former President Donald Trump has already begun accusing his political rivals of cheating.

In a video posted on the Republican frontrunner’s Instagram page on Tuesday evening, Mr Trump said, “You know the other side does cheat, and we’re not gonna let that happen.”

He encouraged Iowa caucus-goers to “do whatever is necessary” on 15 January to “make America great again.”

“If you do, we will win. We will win big and that’s what you have to do,” the former president added.

Mr Trump is no stranger to bogus election fraud claims.

Kelly Rissman reports.

Trump is already accusing his 2024 rivals of cheating

NY Fraud Trial: Judge ends proceedings for the day

Wednesday 1 November 2023 20:38 , Gustaf Kilander

Alex Woodward reports from the courtroom:

Donald Jr is echoing statements he gave during a taped deposition in the case when he is asked about the statements of financial condition prepared at the responsibility of the trust.

As expected, he has put the blame on accountants and the already-convicted former Trump Organization executive who are also listed as co-defendants in this case.

After the judge pushed Colleen Faherty to ask more direct questions, she asked him if he was a trustee on 30 October 2017.

“I believe I would have been, yes,” he says.

And what about his involvement with statements of financial condition in that same time period, prepared at the responsibility of the trust?

“I did not, the accountants did, that’s what we paid them to do,” he says.

And with that, the judge is calling it a day.

Wednesday 1 November 2023 20:26 , Gustaf Kilander

Alex Woodward reports from the courtroom:

State counsel Colleen Faherty brings up an email and attached document Donald Trump Jr sent and received in 2013 before she lists several international deals with Trump businesses, including arrangements in Azerbaijan, Dubai, and Canada.

Trump attorney Christopher Kise objects, citing relevance, and arguing that the emails she is showing are 10 years old.

Ms Faherty is teeing up a suggestion that those deals weren’t included in statements of financial condition.

NY Fraud Trial: ‘Now you’re testifying, Colleen'

Wednesday 1 November 2023 20:24 , Gustaf Kilander

Trump counsel Chris Lise objected to questioning about a Trump company called TTT Consulting LLC, Law360 notes.

“It’s completely irrelevant to this case,” he says.

NY Fraud Trial: Don Jr consulted Eric on several issues

Wednesday 1 November 2023 20:12 , Gustaf Kilander

Alex Woodward reports from the court:

So far, Donald Trump Jr has repeatedly said he doesn’t recall having any conversations with key Trump Organization figures about Trump family business, including why he appeared to have resigned for several months in 2021 while his father took over after leaving the White House.

Asked if his father is still a trustee, he said, once again, “I don’t recall.”

Was Eric Trump ever a trustee?

“I don’t believe he was.”

Did he ever consult with Eric Trump on decisions about the trust?

Here, Donald Jr said he consulted with his brother on a number of issues that he believed Eric was better equipped to handle.

Wednesday 1 November 2023 20:09 , Gustaf Kilander

Don Jr appears to not be too concerned about the actions surrounding the trust, Law360 notes.

“Are you aware if there’s been any revocation [since January 2021] of the appointment of Donald J. Trump as trustee?” Ms Faherty asks.

“I don’t know,” Mr Trump Jr says.

“He’s my brother, I trust him implicitly,” Mr Trump Jr says of Eric.

NY Fraud Trial: Trump restored himself as trustee with five days left of presidency, document reveals

Wednesday 1 November 2023 19:54 , Gustaf Kilander

Donald Trump restored himself as a trustee of the trust containing his assets during his presidency five days before he left the White House.

Alex Woodward writes:

We’re shown a document effectively restoring Donald Trump’s appointment to the head of the Donald J Trump Revocable Trust on January 20, 2021.

Asked how he became aware of that, Donald Trump Jr said through “conversation with counsel”.

His attorneys interrupt.

Judge Engoron also steps in.

“I’m sure you’re aware of attorney-client?” he asks Trump Jr.

I am,” he replies.

“OK, keep that in mind,” he says.

Asked by the attorney general’s counsel Colleen Faherty if he is aware that on January 20, 2021, his father had restored himself as trustee of the trust, Donald Jr says “it would appear that way but I’m not that well versed”.

Wednesday 1 November 2023 19:46 , Gustaf Kilander

Alex Woodward reports from the courtroom:

The proceedings are now moving to the Donald J Trump Revocable Trust, but first, Judge Engoron asks the “trustee” Donald Trump Jr how it’s pronounced.

Mr Trump Jr jokes that he doesn’t know either. New York state lawyer Colleen Faherty asks him to clarify that he is a trustee of the Donald J Trump Revocable Trust.

“I don’t know, I only know ‘reh-coh-vuh-bull,’” he jokes.

NY Fraud Trial: Flippant Don Jr appears to not be taking proceedings too seriously

Wednesday 1 November 2023 19:34 , Gustaf Kilander

Don Jr appeared unhappy to be in court and didn’t seem to take things too seriously, Alex Woodward notes from the courtroom.

He’s speeding through his answers to questions he doesn’t like and is pretty flippant in some of his replies.

NY Fraud Trial: Don Jr agrees he had power of attorney for some of father’s affairs

Wednesday 1 November 2023 19:32 , Gustaf Kilander

Alex Woodward reports from court:

Donald Trump Jr agrees that he had power of attorney for some of his father’s affairs beginning on or about March 2017, shortly after he joined the White House.

Counsel with the New York attorney general shows documents indicating that such authority included “real estate transactions” as well as “banking transactions”.

The court then takes a break.

“As usual, we will take a 10-minute break, which will end in about 15 minutes,” Judge Engoron says.

Wednesday 1 November 2023 19:21 , Oliver O'Connell

Faherty asks: “Since January 2017, who has the ultimate authority over decisions made in the Trump Organization?”

The answer is that it was Don Jr, Eric and Weisselberg.

“We stopped reporting to my father on decisions in the business,” Don Jr. says.

Don Jr says he doesn’t know the exact date that Weisselberg stopped working with the business.

“Probably within the last two years,” he guesses.

He said he has “no knowledge of the specifics” of how he left or was asked to leave the company after he was indicted on criminal charges.

Wednesday 1 November 2023 19:16 , Oliver O'Connell

We’re getting an idea of the structure of the Trump Organization and the family hierarchy now from 2011 to 2017.

Donald Trump Jr testified that there “wasn’t a specific list” of things that convicted former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg, who was more senior than him, would need to approve.

Eric Trump and Donald Jr each had their own “silos” of work and “we tried to stick to that,” Trump Jr said.

In the hierarchy, they were on “equal footing,” Colleen Faherty said. Trump Jr agreed.

And Ivanka?

“Same,” he said.

NY fraud trial: Don Jr questioned about accounting knowledge

Wednesday 1 November 2023 19:07 , Oliver O'Connell

Alex Woodward reports from the courtroom:

Donal Trump Jr repeatedly denied any knowledge of what constitutes “generally accepted accounting principles,” or GAAP, something he learned about in “Accounting 101, back in the late 90s” when he was at Wharton Business School.

When it comes to actually relying on them in business practises and in the drafting of statements of financial condition, that allegedly fraudulent documents at the centre of the case, he said: “That’s what I have CPAs.”

“I know nothing of GAAP in that capacity,” he said.

“Your answer would consistently be, I have no such knowledge?” Colleen Faherty with the attorney general’s office asked.

“That is correct,” he said.

Former GOP lawmaker says family disowned him for criticising Trump

Wednesday 1 November 2023 19:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Former Congressman Adam Kinzinger, a Republican and vocal critic of Donald Trump, said some family members disowned him for pushing back against the former president.

He said his angry relatives believed he was a part of the “devil’s army.”

“So, I had family that sent a certified letter disowning me,” Mr Kinzinger told CNN‘s Anderson Cooper. “They said I’ve lost the trust of great men like Sean Hannity, which is funny, but they believe that. They said I was a member of the devil’s army.”

Mr Kinzinger served in Congress between 2011 and 2023. He frequently criticised Mr Trump’s claims that the 2020 election had been stolen, and was among the voices calling for the former president to be removed from the White House following the Capitol riot in 2021. He also sat on the House select committee which investigated the events of 6 January, 2021.

Graig Graziosi reports.

Ex-Republican lawmaker says family disowned him for criticising Trump

Sidebar: Ivanka Trump to appeal subpoena compelling testimony

Wednesday 1 November 2023 18:59 , Oliver O'Connell

Ivanka Trump managed to succeed in having herself removed from the family’s New York civil fraud case as a defendant but is still being compelled to testify and is currently scheduled to round out the prosecution’s case in one week’s time.

However, her lawyer plans to appeal an order affirming a subpoena that compels her testimony.

You can read the latest filing here.

NY fraud trial: Donald Trump Jr takes the stand to testify

Wednesday 1 November 2023 18:53 , Oliver O'Connell

New York Attorney General counsel Colleen Faherty calls Donald Trump Jr to the stand.

Judge Arthur Engoron briefly allows photographers into the courtroom to capture pictures of Trump Jr sitting at the defence table.

Wednesday 1 November 2023 18:49 , Oliver O'Connell

Alex Woodward summises:

The gist of Suarez’s line of questioning was essentially going through McCarty’s analysis of Trump financial statements to undermine his previous testimony and his report commissioned by the attorney general. Suarez suggests his analysis is incomplete, such as failing to take collateral into consideration when reviewing loans.

To much surprise, Suarez suddenly concludes his cross-examination of Mr McCarty and there is no redirect from the government.

Stand by for Donald Trump Jr’s testimony.

Wednesday 1 November 2023 18:47 , Oliver O'Connell

Suarez asserts that a Deutsche Bank witness testified that the bank was not misled leading to an objection from the New York Attorney General’s team that he is misstating the testimony.

Nevertheless, Mr McCarty replies to this line of questioning by stating that the Deutsche Bank witness’s testimony wouldn’t have been material to his analysis.

“Was it material to your analysis...[that] Deutsche Bank was not misled because Deutsch Bank developed its own independent view?” Suarez asks.

“No,” he replies.

“Does your analysis here consider whether the borrower could find another source of financing?” Suarez asks.

“No, it does not,” Mr McCarty says.

NY fraud trial: Court resumes

Wednesday 1 November 2023 18:36 , Oliver O'Connell

Alex Woodward reports from the courtroom:

Donald Trump Jr’s attorney Cliff Robert arrived with his client just as the lunch break started.

He’s sitting with Alina Habba at the defense table now.

Trump attorney Jesus Suarez is at the podium questioning expert witness Michiel McCarty, who is under the second hour of cross exam.

NB: Trump’s lead attorney Christopher Kise said they would go for two or three hours of cross-examination, which means… Don Jr could take the stand at approximately 3:30pm.

Citing 2020 lies and Jan 6 GOP rep Ken Buck says he won’t seek re-election

Wednesday 1 November 2023 18:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Rep Ken Buck (R-CO), an archconservative Republican who voted to remove Kevin McCarthy as speaker of the House, announced he would not seek re-election.

Mr Buck spoke on to MSNBC host Andrea Mitchell and cited lies about the 2020 presidential election and January 6 as a reason he would not run for another term.

Mr Buck’s announcement comes the same day that House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Kay Granger announced she would not run for re-election.

Eric Garcia reports from Capitol Hill.

GOP lawmaker Ken Buck cites 2020 lies and Jan 6 as he says he won’t seek re-election

Daily Show audience jeers Nancy Mace for defence of Trump

Wednesday 1 November 2023 18:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Rep Nancy Mace faced the scorn of the Daily Show audience after host Charlamagne tha God asked if she believed the mounting evidence against former President Donald Trump following the four criminal indictments against him handed down this year.

“Which evidence?” she asked on Monday, prompting laughter and jeers from the studio audience. “Which indictment, which one?”

The host was asking about the Georgia election interference case in which multiple former Trump lawyers have pleaded guilty.

The South Carolina Republican said she hadn’t “seen the evidence yet”.

Gustaf Kilander reports.

Nancy Mace’s defence of Trump sparks jeers from Daily Show audience

Trump trolled by ‘Morning Joe’ with supercut of his latest gaffes

Wednesday 1 November 2023 17:38 , Oliver O'Connell

MSNBC’s Morning Joe broadcast a devastating supercut of former President Donald Trump’s latest campaign gaffes.

Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough, a former GOP Florida congressman, said: “He’s lost. That’s some of Donald Trump’s greatest hits on foreign policy.”

Mr Scarborough noted that the short video excluded a number of other gaffes by Mr Trump.

But the host added that President Joe Biden is also gaffe-prone.

“They’re both old men, and they’re both doing it,” he said.

‘Morning Joe’ trolls Trump with supercut of his latest gaffes

Don Jr arrives in court ahead of civil fraud trial testimony

Wednesday 1 November 2023 17:31 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump Jr has arrived at the New York Supreme Court in Lower Manhattan ahead of his expected testimony in the civil fraud trial in which he, his brother Eric, father Donald, and the Trump Organization (including senior executives) are defendants.

Meanwhile in DC and West Palm Beach...

Wednesday 1 November 2023 17:04 , Oliver O'Connell

Down in Washington, DC, in the federal election interference case, Judge Tanya Chutkan published a ruling allowing Special Counsel Jack Smith’s team to summarize classified information rather than give any of it to Donald Trump and his defence team.

Here’s what it says in full.

However, in a separate filing in the federal classified documents case in Florida, Judge Aileen Cannon says she won’t block the former president and his defence team from seeing classified information, for now.

You can read the full ruling here.

Wednesday 1 November 2023 16:52 , Oliver O'Connell

Mr McCarty says he is paid $300,000 for his testimony and work on the case and an additional $40,000 to $50,000 that he has billed to the state.

Suarez asks about the loan agreements for the Trump properties in question and Mr McCarty confirms they were secured by collateral in the form of the actual property if owned or the Trump Organization’s interest in the property if not. The loans were also secured by Mr Trump’s personal guarantees.

Suarez has also promised to speed things up a bit and summarise his questions.

Trump lawyer Christopher Kise has had to step out as he represents Mr Trump in another case, but shortly after that announcement, the court breaks for lunch.

Cross-examination will continue at 2.15pm — it is still unclear if Donald Trump Jr will take the stand today.

Wednesday 1 November 2023 16:23 , Oliver O'Connell

Suarez begins his cross-examination of Mr McCarty by confirming that all of Mr Trump’s loans have been repaid in full and on time. Judge Engoron notes that no one is disputing that.

He then asks Mr McCarty about the materials he reviewed in preparation for this testimony and he says he looked at loan agreements, credit reviews, personal guarantees and other similar documents.

These were produced in discovery before the trial.

The court hears that Mr McCarty did not interview anyone from Deutsche Bank nor anyone from the accountancy firm Mazars.

Alex Woodward reports from the courtroom:

Jesus Suarez is leading the cross exam for Team Trump and he’s really testing Judge Engoron’s patience. Suarez’s line of questioning stacks multiple “did you nots” and other statements in an attempt to undermine his credibility and previous testimony.

“Please stop making one question into four or five,” the judge said. He’s fuming.

Christopher Kise stands up to defend the questions, arguing that the judge didn’t have the same response to the AG’s office.

“I stand by my criticism,” the judge said. “That’s why this takes three or four hours.”

Click here to read the full blog on The Independent's website