The riveting civil fraud trial of former President Donald Trump, where New York Attorney General Letitia James alleges years of fraudulent bank loans and insurance policies, continues to keep the nation’s attention. Explosive testimonies and allegations have taken center stage as the trial enters its second week.
Trump’s NY Civil Trial : Weisselberg’s Startling Return
The morning began with former Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg returning to the witness stand, still under direct examination by Louis Solomon of the attorney general’s office. The courtroom was abuzz with anticipation after explosive allegations were published by Forbes, accusing Weisselberg of perjury regarding Trump’s penthouse atop Trump Tower.
In his previous testimony, Weisselberg acknowledged that Trump’s penthouse was 10,996 square feet, not the 30,000 square feet Trump had claimed. However, Weisselberg insisted that he had little to do with the valuation and never considered it a significant asset. Forbes alleges old emails and notes, some of which the attorney general’s office lacks, suggest Weisselberg tried to persuade Forbes reporters that the penthouse was worth more than they believed.
Trump’s NY Civil Trial : Deutsche Bank’s Role Under Scrutiny
Trump’s attorney, Jesus Suarez, delved into the role of Deutsche Bank, which was a major lender to the Trump Organization. The bank extended loans worth hundreds of millions of dollars to Trump, secured by his real estate and personal guarantees. Suarez emphasized that Deutsche Bank conducted its valuation analysis on some of Trump’s properties and questioned whether they lowballed Trump’s net worth.
