NEW YORK — A judge berated Donald Trump on Monday in Manhattan for giving extended answers while the former president was testifying on the witness stand in a civil fraud case, threatening that he would draw a “negative inference” from Trump’s responses.
Judge Arthur Engoron became testy to the point of shouting at Trump’s defense attorneys to “sit down!” after they began responding to Engoron’s complaints that Trump was giving “speeches” instead of answering questions appropriately.
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The scolding from Engoron began when Trump was responding to questions about his financial statements. The former president detailed how he often did not factor in his “brand” value and instead undervalued his assets, countering claims New York Attorney General Letitia James has made that he grossly exaggerated his wealth over several years.
“Did you ask for an essay on brand value?” Engoron asked James’s attorneys.
Engoron then lectured Trump and his attorneys for “editorializing” after Trump claimed he was too busy during a period in 2021 to pay close attention to financial documents because Democrats, “all Trump haters,” were targeting him then. Trump also drew the judge’s ire when he referred to the trial as “crazy.”
Engoron asked Trump’s attorneys to tell their client to answer questions with “yes” or “no.”
“Mr. [Chris] Kise, can you control your client? This is not a political rally,” Engoron said.
Trump’s attorneys argued the questions Trump was being asked were not succinct and, therefore, did not result in succinct answers.
They also said the questions warranted “narratives” as responses and that Engoron should “want to hear” what Trump, of all witnesses, had to say.
“I’m not here to hear what he has to say!” Engoron yelled. “Sit down, Mr. Kise! Sit down, Ms. [Alina] Habba!”
Trump then said, unprompted, into his microphone, “This is a very unfair trial. Very, very, and I hope the public is watching.”
The stunning back-and-forth between Engoron and Trump came as Engoron assesses a sweeping complaint brought by James alleging that Trump, his adult sons, and Trump Organization executives inflated Trump’s net worth for years, in part to secure more favorable loans.
While Engoron has found Trump liable for a portion of the claims in the complaint, the trial is expected to examine the remainder of the claims and determine what, if any, penalties Trump will face. James is seeking $250 million in damages and is aiming to prohibit Trump from conducting any business in New York state, a move that could decimate his real estate empire.
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The trial is expected to last as late as mid-December.
Trump was still testifying at the time of this publishing.
