October 2, 2023 - Trump civil fraud trial in New York begins

Former President Donald Trump said Monday that the civil fraud trial against him and his associates that is set to begin soon is a "continuation of the single greatest witch hunt of all time."

He made the comments as he made his way to the courtroom where the trial will begin.

Trump went on to attack Democratic New York Attorney General Letitia James, saying "she was going to 'get Trump' before she even knew anything about me."

"She used this to run for governor. She failed in her attempt to run for governor," he said. "She had virtually no following. She came back and she said, 'well, now I will go back to get Trump again.' And this what we have. It is a scam and a sham."

Trump added that his financial statements "are phenomenal," and claimed, "no bank was affected, no bank was hurt."

Donald Trump walked through the hallway in court ahead of his civil fraud trial. He is talking to reporters right now.

There have been a smattering of attempts to remove Donald Trump from the ballot next year based on his alleged role in the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol.

On Monday, the Supreme Court said it won't take up one of those longshot challenges, rejecting an appeal from John Anthony Castro, a little-known candidate for the Republican presidential nomination.

Castro’s case against Trump leans on a post-Civil War provision of the 14th Amendment that says any American official who takes an oath to uphold the US Constitution is disqualified from holding future office if they “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” or have “given aid or comfort” to insurrectionists. 

The case was denied without any comment or recorded vote. 

There are still 14th Amendment challenges against Trump in Minnesota and Colorado, which are scheduled for trials later this year.  

Former President Donald Trump’s campaign on Monday continued to attack Democratic New York Attorney General Letitia James, saying the fraud trial that is about to begin in New York City today was politically motivated. 

Trump will be in attendance Monday in a New York courtroom for the start of the civil fraud trial, which was brought by James against him, his eldest sons, their companies and Trump Organization executives.

“Letitia James made clear that ‘getting Trump’ was the motivating force behind her campaign for attorney general,” the Trump campaign said in a new statement, which also referred to James as a “Democratic activist.”

James brought a $250 million lawsuit last September alleging that Trump and his co-defendants committed repeated fraud in inflating assets on financial statements to get better terms on commercial real estate loans and insurance policies.

Donald Trump's son, Eric Trump, has arrived at the New York City court ahead of the civil fraud trial against the former president, his eldest sons, their companies and Trump Organization executives.

The civil trial over inflated assets in fraudulent financial statements come less than a week after a ruling by Judge Arthur Engoron that found Trump and his co-defendants are liable for “persistent and repeated” fraud.

Former President Donald Trump has arrived at a New York City courthouse in lower Manhattan to attend the civil trial against him that begins today.

The New York attorney general brought the civil lawsuit, alleging he, his adult sons, their businesses and Trump Organization executives engaged in fraud.

He is listed as a potential witness for both the attorney general and the defense, but that does not mean he will be called to testify.

New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a short statement Monday morning, "My message is simple: No matter how powerful you are, no matter how much money you think you may have, no one is above the law."

The attorney general noted that last week, a state Supreme Court judge found Trump and his co-defendants liable for fraud for grossly inflating asset valuations on financial statements. The trial that begins today will determine the amount of damages owed.

Watch the moment here:

The civil fraud trial that former President Donald Trump will attend today is in the large third floor courtroom: room 300 of the 60 Centre Street building.

Paintings on the wall depict the early courts of New York City, including the popular law courts of New Netherlands in the 1600s.

There are various computer display screens arranged for the parties, and two large screens for the court and the gallery.

There are nine rows of wood benches, with two aisles and some chairs on the side. Altogether, available seating exceeds 100 people.

People are still arriving.

Former President Donald Trump departed from Trump Tower and is en route to a New York City courthouse to attend the first day of the civil fraud trial against him, his eldest sons, their companies and Trump Organization executives.

More on the trial: Opening statements in the trial over inflated assets will begin today. The trial comes less than a week after a ruling that found Trump and his co-defendants liable for "repeated" fraud.

The former president, his adult children and his closest business advisers are all listed as potential witnesses for both the New York attorney general and the defense. Being listed as a potential witness, however, does not mean they will be called to testify.