Trump Jr testifies in fraud trial as Trump stays silent on sister’s death: Live updates
Donald Trump Jr attacks Attorney General Letitia James for ‘witch hunt’ against Trump
Donald Trump’s attorneys have begun to present their defence argument in his civil fraud trial at New York State’s Supreme Court in Lower Manhattan.
The former president’s eldest son Donald Trump Jr was the first witness, launching into a lengthy sales pitch praising his father’s “artistry” and his real estate “canvas”.
Asked about what the future holds for the family and company he said it depends on whether or not they are “sued into oblivion”.
During his testimony two weeks ago, under questioning from lawyers with the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James, Don Jr emphatically denied having anything to do with making his father’s statements of financial condition at the heart of a lawsuit.
In their testimonies, his brother Eric Trump and sister Ivanka Trump also denied any involvement in those documents, though evidence appeared to show they were well aware of them.
Meanwhile, Special Counsel Jack Smith has warned that the former president wants to turn his federal January 6 trial into a media “carnival” for wanting proceedings to be televised. Mr Smith is urging federal judge Tanya Chutkan to reject his request.
Trump fraud trial has obligatory Taylor Swift reference
Sheri Dillon describes a type of appraisal that doesn’t take into account the renown of the seller — which would treat a hypothetical property associated with Taylor Swift no differently as one owned by Sheri Dillon.
Judge Engoron notes that every case has to have Taylor Swift in it somehow.
Oliver O’Connell13 November 2023 20:39
Jack Smith: Trump wants to turn Jan 6 case into media ‘carnival’
The former president’s attorneys took no position on an earlier long-shot request from a group of media outlets asking to broadcast the trial, but a filing on 10 November asked for “sunlight” and accused federal prosecutors of trying to “continue this travesty in darkness”.
“Every person in America, and beyond, should have the opportunity to study this case firsthand and watch as, if there is a trial, President Trump exonerates himself of these baseless and politically motivated charges,” John Lauro wrote in a filing last week.
In a filing on 13 November, Mr Smith’s office warned that Mr Trump’s bedelated response is a “transparent effort to demand special treatment” to “try his case in the courtroom of public opinion, and turn his trial into a media event.”
Oliver O’Connell13 November 2023 20:30
New witness: Sheri Dillon
With Donald Trump Jr having stepped down from the witness stand, former Trump tax attorney Sheri Dillon is up next for the defence, having already testified for the prosecution case.
The defence has a very long list of witnesses that also includes Donald Trump and Eric Trump. They intend to wrap up in approximately one month.
Oliver O’Connell13 November 2023 20:19
Don Jr hails his ‘real estate artist’ father in fraud trial testimony
With his return to the witness stand in a fraud trial that threatens the family business, Donald Trump Jr launched a lengthy sales pitch praising his father’s “artistry” and his real estate “canvas” as his attorneys begin their weekslong defence.
During his testimony two weeks ago, under questioning from lawyers with the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James, the former president’s oldest son emphatically denied having anything to do with making his father’s statements of financial condition at the heart of a lawsuit accusing the family of fraud.
In their testimonies, his brother Eric and sister Ivanka also denied any involvement in those documents, while evidence presented by the attorney general’s office appeared to show they were well aware of them.
Alex Woodward filed this report from the courthouse in Lower Manhattan.
Oliver O’Connell13 November 2023 20:00
Alex Woodward reports from the courtroom:
After several hours of questions that teed up the Trump property promo reel, Faherty is grilling him over a handful of statements he made.
On 40 Wall Street, she points out the property had a mortgage with a 3.76 per cent coupon, to mature in July 2025, based on an occupancy rate from 2015. Occupancy has since fallen to 77 per cent.
Pointing out the fact that the Waikiki hotel dropped the Trump name entirely, Jr says dryly: “That is what they’re doing.”
Asked what the Trumps’ future plans are, Don Jr replies that it depends on whether they’re “sued into oblivion in the foreseeable future”.
Cross-examination concludes and Team Trump huddles for a few minutes to see what their next move is.
Don Jr has left the courtroom
Oliver O’Connell13 November 2023 19:58
Direct examination concludes
No more questions from Team Trump, after what was a highlight reel of the Trump real estate portfolio that felt more like a marketing presentation and a commercial for all things Trump than testimony in a trial with tens of millions of dollars at stake.
Colleen Faherty with the New York Attorney General’s office begins the cross-examination and brings up the Los Angeles golf course, which his lawyers had him confirm is “literally on the Pacific Ocean”.
“Didn’t the 18th hole literally fall into the ocean?” she asks.
Don Jr confirms that it did.
Alex Woodward13 November 2023 19:46
Don Jr continues testimony with tour of Trump properties
Donald Trump Jr continues his testimony with a tour of the Trump golf properties before winding up at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC at the Old Post Office.
Asked what the project looked like before the Trumps took over, Don Jr replies: “A war zone.”
Oliver O’Connell13 November 2023 19:38
Trump wants his trial to be televised
Donald Trump found himself in rare agreement with the mainstream media, pleading in a Friday night legal filing that his blockbuster federal trial for allegedly conspiring to overturn the 2020 election be shown live on TV.
“The prosecution wishes to continue this travesty in darkness,” the former president’s lawyers wrote. “President Trump calls for sunlight. Every person in America, and beyond, should have the opportunity to study this case firsthand and watch as, if there is a trial, President Trump exonerates himself of these baseless and politically motivated charges.”
Elsewhere in the filing, Mr Trump’s team reiterated familiar conspiratorial allegations that the special counsel prosecution is part of a “coordinated effort to undermine President Trump’s candidacy” that bears the hallmarks of an “authoritarian regime.”
Josh Marcus has the details.
Oliver O’Connell13 November 2023 19:31
Amid cheers, Trump gets given middle finger at UFC match
But not everyone in the New York crowd was thrilled to see the former president.
Cameras captured actress Nia Renee Hill, the wife of comedian Bill Burr, appearing to flash two middle fingers at the former president as he looks out at the audience, oblivious to the gesture.
Oliver O’Connell13 November 2023 19:00
Trump compared to Hitler after ‘vermin’ attack
Mr Trump, 77, spoke in Claremont, New Hampshire, telling the crowd in his usual grievance-laden parlance: “We pledge to you that we will root out the communists, Marxists, fascists and the radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country that lie and steal and cheat on elections.”
The former president has refused to accept the results of the 2020 election and continues to lie, falsely claiming that it was stolen.
Gustaf Kilander has the story.
Oliver O’Connell13 November 2023 18:40
