Testimony at Donald Trump’s ongoing civil fraud trial in Manhattan turned to his son Eric on Thursday, with a witness telling the court the former president’s third child wanted him to pump up the value on the family company’s Westchester golf course beyond $45 million.
David McArdle – a Cushman & Wakefield appraiser – testified that he had placed the value of residential units being developed at the Trump National Golf Club in Westchester at between $40 million and $45 million in 2013, according to a report by ABC News.
But Trump Organization Vice President Eric Trump repeatedly pushed back on the predicted future value of the 71 duplex units that were to be build along the 18th hole fairway, McArdle said in Manhattan Supreme Court.
“Eric had certain ideas about value. They may have been more lofty than $45 million,” McArdle testified. “Eric loved this project. He thought it was very special.”
In an email to a co-worker, McArdle had written about the Trump scion: “He continues to call me. I am uncomfortable not replying, please call him.”
But McArdle said he stayed firm on the valuation range he’d come up – while trying to toe the line and be “respectful” of Eric, since he was hoping to do future business with the family real estate company.
McArdle said he feared if he succumbed to the pressures and valued the undeveloped property at higher than $45 million, it would put “Eric in a vulnerable position” – since the appraisal could end up being scrutinized by the tax authorities or a court.
“We were sort of at the end, and anything beyond $45 million would have put people at risk,” he said.
McArdle was the second witness to take the stand Thursday, at the third week of trial in New York Attorney General Letitia James’ $250 million fraud lawsuit against the former president, his sons Eric and Don Jr., and the company.
Earlier in the day, lawyers for Trump, 77, and attorneys in the AG’s office got snippy with each other during a longer-than-normal 25-minute sidebar with Justice Arthur Engoron – who is deciding the case, rather than a jury, ABC reported.
“Excuse me, be more respectful,” AG lawyer Colleen Faherty could be heard saying during the private meeting by the judge’s bench.
“No,” Trump lawyer Chris Kise answered.
The first witness to take the stand Thursday was Jack Weisselberg – an executive with investment firm Ladder Capital – which loaned the Trump Org $160 million.
Weisselberg – the son of former Trump Org CFO Allen Weisselberg, who is a co-defendant in the AG’s case – testified that all the loans he worked on for the real estate company were personally approved by the ex-president himself.
Trump attended trial on Tuesday and Wednesday but was absent Thursday. He’s not required to be in court for the civil case.
The 2024 GOP presidential frontrunner said on his way out of court Wednesday that he wouldn’t be in court because of the golf tournament at his Miami, Fla. golf club, Trump Golf Doral, which was hosting the LIV Golf Team Championship on Friday and Saturday.
Trump has adamantly denied the AG’s claims that he inflated his assets for years to get better loan and insurance terms.
He’s claimed the case is a political witch hunt.