(Tuesday PO) Donald Trump's business fraud trial wraps up day one in New York

[GuideToACrazyWorld]

https://www.npr.org/2023/10/02/12027303 ... l-new-york

The first day of a civil business fraud trial against former President Donald Trump wrapped up Monday afternoon.

Although Trump did not have to be present for the start of the trial, he came for a full day of opening remarks and the first witness testimony given by Donald Bender, a Trump Organization consultant.

Trump and other defendants are accused of exaggerating the value of their real estate.

If found guilty, Trump, who said he's "going to court ... to fight for my name and reputation," would have to pay $250 million in damages and be banned from doing business in New York state.
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"My message is simple: No matter how powerful you are. No matter how much money you think you may have, no one is above the law," said State Attorney General Letitia James outside the New York Supreme Court ahead of the trial.

This is one of four pending legal cases Trump is facing in New York alone while he is seeking to win another term as president in the 2024 presidential race.

Trump continued to call the allegations a politically motivated "witch hunt" and argued that he should also be protected because his contacts contained a so-called "buyer beware" clause.

He argued people have to do their own due diligence, but either way he doesn't believe anyone suffered over the financial documents.

"What we have is a scam," Trump told reporters ahead of opening statements. "The actual net worth is substantially more. No bank was affected. No bank was hurt."

Bender testified to the processes of the Trump Organization, particularly how the financial statements at the center of the trial, are produced. He said he produced statements based on financial information provided by Trump's executives.

The first big witness is likely to be Allan Weisselberg, former chief financial officer at the Trump Organization. He is a defendant in the case and fairly high up on the list to testify.
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Earlier this year Weisselberg was sentenced to five months in prison for financial crimes he committed while working there. Last year he pleaded guilty to 15 counts including grand larceny tax fraud and falsifying business records.

Another recognizable name on the witness list is Michael Cohen, a former Trump lawyer. On Monday, prosecutors played part of a video deposition with Cohen in which he said he was involved with preparing several years' worth of financial documents. He was quoted saying that others in the organization, including Weisselberg, would inflate the numbers to land Trump higher on the Forbes list.
Allen Weisselberg sentenced to 5 months for his role in Trump Organization tax fraud
Law
Allen Weisselberg sentenced to 5 months for his role in Trump Organization tax fraud
The lawsuit alleges Trump committed fraud to do business

After a three-year investigation, New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit in September 2022 claiming Trump and his executive team engaged in fraudulent business practices. This includes allegations the value of Trump's business and the market value of his real estate holdings in New York state and in Florida were inflated in order to land deals, and negotiate with banks and insurers.

The former president tried to at least delay the trial by suing the judge that will be overseeing the trial. But a New York appeals court panel of judges rejected that move earlier last week, allowing the trial to continue as scheduled.
See how Trump's trials crowd the Republican political calendar
Elections
See how Trump's trials crowd the Republican political calendar
New York judge has already decided Trump committed fraud

On Sept. 26, New York Judge Arthur Engoron, who is overseeing the trial, issued an order concluding that Trump and his associates — including his sons Eric and Donald Jr. — did inflate the value of their assets.

Though the judge ruled on some of the major elements of the lawsuit, there remain six other claims that will be argued during the trial. This includes allegations that Trump and his associates broke state law by falsifying documents, conspiring to falsify business records, issuing false business statements and financial statements and committing insurance fraud.
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The attorney general of New York is also still seeking roughly $250 million in penalties.
Trump's N.Y. business empire is 'greatly at risk' from judge's fraud ruling
National
Trump's N.Y. business empire is 'greatly at risk' from judge's fraud ruling
Trump continues to deny any wrongdoing

Trump has called the fraud accusations ridiculous and untrue and has accused both the judge and New York attorney general, who are Democrats, of being politically motivated.

In a post on his social media site Truth, Trump said Sunday that the valuations of his property are "FRAUDULENT in pursuit of Election Interference, and worse. THIS WHOLE CASE IS A SHAM!!!"

Christopher Kise, a lawyer for Trump, called the initial ruling that confirmed the fraud allegations outrageous and a miscarriage of justice.
Trump and children on the witness list

The trial was expected to run from October to December, but with the recent judge order, that could be shorter.

Both teams have a lengthy list of witnesses, though not all will get called. Still, appearing on both lists are the former president himself along with Eric and Donald Trump Jr. The attorney general's team also listed Ivanka Trump.

[Tarmaque]

He's freaking out, and it's obviously because he can see his entire life disintegrating before his eyes.

[Slip Shod]

He's freaking out, and it's obviously because he can see his entire life disintegrating before his eyes.

I know you're consumed in hatred for this man and all that he stands for - all I can say is that 'it's not over till it's over' and that there may still be some surprises and twists yet unseen to come.
Court decisions are not final, they may be appealed & reversed or sent back for review from a higher Court, but hate, it's not a good thing. There's no good that can come of it. What you feel doesn't impact the other person whatsoever - Trump ain't catching any of your bad vibes - medically I'd say, probably poisoning your own system

[Z is for Zangie]

He's freaking out, and it's obviously because he can see his entire life disintegrating before his eyes.

I know you're consumed in hatred for this man and all that he stands for - all I can say is that 'it's not over till it's over' and that there may still be some surprises and twists yet unseen to come.
Court decisions are not final, they may be appealed & reversed or sent back for review from a higher Court, but hate, it's not a good thing. There's no good that can come of it. What you feel doesn't impact the other person whatsoever - Trump ain't catching any of your bad vibes - medically I'd say, probably poisoning your own system

Sigh, once again Slip, it is against the rules to insult other posters, stop now.
Trump is guilty as sin and every aware person knows this. I don't hate him in the way you think, I do think he is a horrible person and a criminal and needs to pay for his sins and illegal behaviors.

The facts are out there, you won't leave your bubble and find out the truth and live in some dream world.

I think I just heard because it is a civil trail and bench trial there is no appealing this one. He already lost and will probably lose his businesses in NY at least.

You have a lot more hate towards us and those we follow than the opposite...I don't hate you, I feel sorry for you for not being able to understand who you think he is and what he actually is has harmed you. He has taught you hate everyone who doesn't like him. He is now promoting shooting anyone he doesn't like...he is despicable and has no business being president again, he sucked at the last time and he has gotten a lot worse.

[Slip Shod]

Z, honestly I don't hate anyone and for you to say that I'm a hater well, not so and I'm a bit disappointed in you to say so. Hate requires an emotional attachment to it. I sleep well, I'm an overall upbeat person & I won't be over ruled by emotions, especially negative ones.
You've judged me times past and I overlook .. like water off a duck's back.
Be free Z to think and feel whatever you want.. I'm just saying don't get caught up in it and owning it. That's being ruled by emotions
All right, what do I mean by owning it ? It's when it takes root. Think of it as a tree rooted in place and it's not going anywhere - rooted.
Hate is owning a negative emotion And both you and tarmac having so many Trump posts between you.. Hey, you guys are rooted, it's emotional with you

[Z is for Zangie]

Z, honestly I don't hate anyone and for you to say that I'm a hater well, not so and I'm a bit disappointed in you to say so. Hate requires an emotional attachment to it. I sleep well, I'm an overall upbeat person & I won't be over ruled by emotions, especially negative ones.
You've judged me times past and I overlook .. like water off a duck's back.
Be free Z to think and feel whatever you want.. I'm just saying don't get caught up in it and owning it. That's being ruled by emotions
All right, what do I mean by owning it ? It's when it takes root. Think of it as a tree rooted in place and it's not going anywhere - rooted.
Hate is owning a negative emotion And both you and tarmac having so many Trump posts between you.. Hey, you guys are rooted, it's emotional with you

Sigh, I don't hate anyone, I can't stand Trump because he is a very bad person and a threat to democracy. My dislike of him is at no stronger a level than your liking of him...my despair at what is happening the country and how so many on the right are threatening to kill us on the left and anyone else they don't like it is reasonable to be worried, I worry more about the hate and anger on the right which is not only destroying them but trying to destroy us.At least we aren't plotting to kill you all etc.

I am quite healthy, thank you, it is not hate .. I do not wallow in it and I preach this to the ones on the right constantly attacking me. But, it is a serious issue that needs attention and we need to be aware so we can stop him and his nasty followers before they come after us....concern for the country and everyone's safety is not a bad thing...and try, though I keep failing with you, to convince people how wrong you are and how you need to not vote for him, he is dangerous and he wants a true dictatorship, though he won't be mean to hi followers of course...

Please quit talking to me like you know me, especially because when I explain myself, you dispute my own definition of who I am...I will not relax till that man can no longer be president or any other position of authority in this country. It is a passion for a cause you are calling hate.

We can be angry this man is behaving badly and getting away with it and his followers follow like lemmings and put us all in danger... without it being about hate...I am cognizant of the danger and I intend to do something about it not happening. And I intend to be vocal about the danger whenever I have an opportunity to, your saying what you do is supposed to make me feel bad and pretend like Trump is some kind of savior to something...it is called gaslighting...I recognize it when I see it and I will not fall for it.

And, your words sure sound hateful, especially about Biden for instance...and calling us stupid or telling us we are mentally disturbed is an insult and shows lack of respect for us...

And please, I don't need a therapist, I most likely know more about it than you do

[Z is for Zangie]

Z, honestly I don't hate anyone and for you to say that I'm a hater well, not so and I'm a bit disappointed in you to say so. Hate requires an emotional attachment to it. I sleep well, I'm an overall upbeat person & I won't be over ruled by emotions, especially negative ones.
You've judged me times past and I overlook .. like water off a duck's back.
Be free Z to think and feel whatever you want.. I'm just saying don't get caught up in it and owning it. That's being ruled by emotions
All right, what do I mean by owning it ? It's when it takes root. Think of it as a tree rooted in place and it's not going anywhere - rooted.
Hate is owning a negative emotion And both you and tarmac having so many Trump posts between you.. Hey, you guys are rooted, it's emotional with you

PS:: Anyone who dismisses my emotions because they don't have any or think they are a bad thing, is not a good person. and tend to be abusive to people like me who behave n a different way, but, aren't bad for doing so

[Slip Shod]

Though we may not need a therapist talking through can be therapeutic - but can go the other way too .
Then again maybe it's me that needs a therapist . Me and Trump both needing a therapist √ - half the country needing therapy and medicated. In fact, most of the world. I can see that the world is nuts. I'm all in for medication. Know any good shrinks?

[Slip Shod]

Congressman Carjacked At Gunpoint Outside DC Apartment
•
Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) was carjacked at gunpoint during an incident involving three assailants that took place outside his apartment in Washington, D.C., his office confirmed to the New York Post late Monday (October 2) night.
•crazy world, crazy world

[Slip Shod]

Philadelphia Journalist Who Mocked Concern Over Violent Crime In Democrat Cities Shot Dead In Home
-
https://davidicke.com/2023/10/04/philad ... d-in-home/

[Z is for Zangie]

Philadelphia Journalist Who Mocked Concern Over Violent Crime In Democrat Cities Shot Dead In Home
-
https://davidicke.com/2023/10/04/philad ... d-in-home/

Sigh...I hate this crap

[Z is for Zangie]

Congressman Carjacked At Gunpoint Outside DC Apartment
•
Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) was carjacked at gunpoint during an incident involving three assailants that took place outside his apartment in Washington, D.C., his office confirmed to the New York Post late Monday (October 2) night.
•crazy world, crazy world

Henry is a Dem btw...one of the few conservative dems left

[Slip Shod]

It's the deal where bad things can happen to good people or bad people. It's a roll of the dice, but the decisions we make, I'm talking about policy, big cities soft on crime isn't helping the situation -
incorrigibles, repeat offenders, need to be thrown away and forgotten not go soft on them
Put in the cage and let them kill each other.
Much love to one and all