Donald Trump again ripped the New York attorney general’s $250 million civil fraud case against him as a political “sham” Thursday – as the fourth day of trial got underway in a Manhattan courtroom without the former president in attendance.
“This case is a political SHAM that should never have been brought,” Trump, 77, ranted in a post on his social media platform Truth Social roughly three hours before trial resumed in Manhattan Supreme Court.
An hour later the former president called the case a “sh..show,” in another rambling post taking aim at Attorney General Letitia James and Justice Arthur Engoron, who is overseeing the case.
Son Eric Trump – also a defendant in the case and the executive vice president of Trump Organization – piled on, too, bashing the trial and writing on Truth Social that: “the system is weaponized, broken and disgusting!”
The father and son had been in attendance at the 60 Centre Street courthouse in lower Manhattan for the first two days of trial and for the morning session on Wednesday, but were both absent Thursday – resulting in a noticeably less packed courtroom.
Engoron – who lost his cool at Trump’s lawyers the day prior – joked that the parties should get camera ready as photographers briefly came into the courtroom to shoot the scene before testimony resumed Thursday morning.
The judge also quipped about the photos of himself in the press after he made headlines Wednesday when he got angry at Trump’s lawyers for allegedly dragging out their questioning of former Trump accountant Donald Bender.
“I haven’t looked that good since I was 20 years old, when the only robe I was wearing was a bathrobe,” Engoron jested of the coverage.
So far at trial – which expected to run through December – lawyers delivered opening statements on Monday and only two witnesses have taken the stand, including Bender and an accounting auditor, Camron Harris.
Bender – a partner at Mazars USA – was back on the stand again Thursday, as Trump’s team continues its cross-examination of him.
Bender said he noticed at times that there were inaccuracies in how the ex-president valued his assets, including Ivanka Trump’s Park Avenue penthouse being valued on Trump Org business statements at over $20 million while her rental agreement listed the unit at a purchase option of $8.5 million.
Trump’s camp told Engoron that Bender was evading their questions and said that was part of the reason they had to keep him on the stand for so long on Wednesday — prompting the judge to slam his hand on the bench and say “this is ridiculous!”
“Mr. Bender isn’t on trial here,” the judge said. “Don’t waste time.”
Harris – an audit partner at another accounting firm Whitley Penn – was taken out of turn in much shorter questioning Wednesday saying that Eric Trump “set the tone at the top” for the board of trustees at Trump Org.
Trump took every opportunity – during his three days at court – to bash James, Engoron and even the judge’s clerk in the press and on Truth Social.
One post from Tuesday – which was later removed – included a photo of Engoron’s clerk Allison Greenfield with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). Trump dubbed the clerk “Schumer’s girlfriend” and claimed that she was “running the case against me.”
A Schumer spokeswoman said the senator didn’t know Greenfield and noted that the senator takes countless photos with constituents.
Engoron issued a limited gag order after the post barring any parties in the case from commenting on his court staff.
After the 45th president left court and headed to Mar-a-Lago in Florida during the lunch break Wednesday, James – who has attended every day of trial – said she wouldn’t be bullied.
“The Trump show is over,” she added.
Defendants are not required to attend trial in a civil case as they would be in a criminal case.
James’ suit claims the real estate tycoon lied on business records for a decade, exaggerating his worth both for vanity’s sake – so he could move up on Forbes list of billionaires – and to get an edge on loan and insurance terms.
Trump could face some $250 million in fines and the loss of his business empire in New York.