(TheRedAlertNews.com) – The 2024 Republican nomination frontrunner is expected to be in a Manhattan courtroom Monday for the start of his trial in the New York state attorney general’s $250 million civil fraud lawsuit against him.
Donald Trump reportedly flew to New York City Sunday night following a campaign visit in early-voting Iowa to spend the night in Trump Tower to attend the opening arguments in court, The New York Post reports, citing law enforcement sources.
It adds that the 45th president of the United States might be present in the lower Manhattan courtroom on Tuesday as well.
Last week, an appeals court refused to heed Trump’s request to delay the trial in Democrat New York Attorney General Letitia James’s civil fraud case against him.
The Post stresses that his expected appearance in court on Monday would be the first time he faces Justice Arthur Engoron.
In recent Truth Social posts, Trump attacked Engoron as part of the left’s political witch hunt against him.
“I have a Deranged, Trump Hating Judge, who RAILROADED this FAKE CASE through a NYS Court at a speed never before seen,” the former president wrote.
His civil fraud trial is scheduled for 10 a.m. EST on Monday, with opening statements by James’ office and the defendants’ attorneys.
The lawsuit targets Donald Trump, his sons Don Jr. and Eric, the Trump Organization, and some of its present and former officials.
The defendants don’t face jail time since the case is not criminal but civil. The decision on how much the defendants would owe will be made by the justice rather than a jury.
Last week, Engoron ruled that the former president had run a fraud scheme for years by often inflating his assets’ worth in company records to secure better insurance and loan conditions.
In the ruling, the justice also canceled Trump’s business licenses in New York City.
After the trial starts, the NY AG’s office will summon witnesses, beginning with Donald Bender – a partner at accounting firm Mazars, which ran the Trump Organization’s account.
The former president and his adult sons are scheduled to appear as the 25th, 26th, and 27th witnesses, meaning they would likely be interviewed in several weeks.
Other witnesses include the former president’s daughter, Ivanka, and the former Trump Organization CFO, Allen Weisselberg.
