An angry Donald Trump told the judge presiding over his New York civil fraud trial Thursday that the case is “a fraud on me,” while lawyers from the state attorney general’s office painted the former president as a remorseless fraudster who intentionally lied about his net worth in a successful scheme to line his pockets with even more money.
Trump spoke on the final day of his trial. State Judge Arthur Engoron said immediately after closing arguments that he hopes to issue a ruling by the end of the month.
“It’s up to me now, and will do my best to have a final decision by Jan. 31st,” Engoron said after hours of closing statements in a case that could cost Trump up to $370 million and permanently ban him from the New York real estate industry where he made his name.
