Key takeaways:
- Testimony and documents presented in court suggested that Eric Trump had envisioned a “lofty” value for a suburban golf course and was actively involved in appraisals he has since said he doesn’t remember.
- Judge Arthur Engoron issued a limited gag order, barring Donald Trump from posting or speaking publicly about the judge’s staff.
- The judge asked Trump’s lawyers why he shouldn’t impose “serious” sanctions, “including financial sanctions,” on the former president for violating the gag order.
New York (AP) – Former President Donald Trump’s civil fraud trial took an unexpected turn on Thursday when the spotlight shifted to his son Eric. Testimony and documents presented in court suggested that Eric had envisioned a “lofty” value for a suburban golf course and was actively involved in appraisals he has since said he doesn’t remember.
The trial is related to claims made by New York Attorney General Letitia James that Donald Trump, his company, and executives, including Eric Trump, had fraudulently inflated asset values on financial statements given to lenders, insurers, and others.
The proceedings were further complicated when Judge Arthur Engoron issued a limited gag order, barring Trump from posting or speaking publicly about the judge’s staff. This was in response to a post on Trump’s campaign website that was a duplicate of one posted to his social media site on October 3rd. The post was soon deleted after the judge’s order.
The judge also asked Trump’s lawyers why he shouldn’t impose “serious” sanctions, “including financial sanctions,” on the former president for violating the gag order. The lawyers argued that the post was not intended to be malicious and that Trump had removed it as soon as he was made aware of the order.
The trial is ongoing and it remains to be seen how the judge will rule on the matter. It is also unclear what impact, if any, the testimony and documents presented by Eric Trump will have on the case.
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