Trump cannot deliver closing arguments at NY fraud trial, judge says

Donald Trump cannot personally deliver a closing argument in his civil fraud trial, a New York judge said Wednesday (Jan 10) after the former US president's attorneys did not agree to conditions that would prevent him from delivering a "campaign speech".

The development comes a day before closing arguments in a case brought by New York's attorney general that accuses Trump of inflating his net worth by billions of dollars to secure better loan terms.

Justice Arthur Engoron agreed to let Trump speak but only if he adhered to standard rules that bar attorneys from discussing irrelevant matters during arguments, according to an email chain filed on the court's docket.

"He may not deliver a campaign speech, and he may not impugn myself, my staff, plaintiff, plaintiff's staff, or the New York State Court System, none of which is relevant to this case," Engoron said.

Engoron said Trump doesn't have an absolute right under New York law to speak during closing arguments, because his lawyers can speak for him.

The parties began discussing possible closing arguments by Trump on Jan 4, the emails showed. Trump's lawyers did not agree to Engoron's terms within his deadline, which he extended three times.

"Is anyone surprised anymore?" Trump's lawyer Alina Habba said in a statement responding to Engoron's order.

New York Attorney General Letitia James, an elected Democrat, is seeking nearly US$370 million (S$490 million) from Trump, 10 of his companies and his two adult sons, Donald Jr. and Eric Trump. Engoron found Trump liable for fraud in September, leaving the trial to focus largely on how much Trump should pay.

The lawsuit is one of many legal troubles Trump faces as he campaigns to challenge President Joe Biden in the November 2024 election, though none have diminished his commanding lead over rivals.

Trump has complained that the trial interfered with his campaign schedule but used his occasional, voluntary court appearances to rally support with inflammatory remarks before news cameras outside the courtroom.

He has denied wrongdoing and said the case is a political witch hunt, accusing both James and Engoron of political bias.

The state's lawyers sought to show that Trump consistently overvalued many of the towers, golf clubs and other assets that burnished his reputation as a business mogul before he entered politics and won the 2016 presidential election.

Trump's lawyers have argued that the property valuations were subjective and that banks were not harmed by any alleged inaccuracies because they profited from the loans.

Trump faces four potential criminal trials this year. He has been charged in Washington and Georgia for his attempts to overturn his 2020 election loss, in Florida for his handling of classified documents and in New York for hush money he paid to a porn star.

He has pleaded not guilty in all of those cases.

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