Testimony concluded on Wednesday in former U.S. president Donald Trump's civil fraud trial in New York, where he is accused of lying about his net worth to dupe lenders.
The lawsuit by the New York attorney general seeks to fine Trump at least $250 million and sharply curtail his ability to do business in New York, home to several of his iconic properties.
Trump, the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, has denied wrongdoing and called the case a “scam.”
The judge presiding over the case, Justice Arthur Engoron, is set to issue a verdict in writing after closing arguments on Jan. 11.
Engoron has already ruled that Trump's financial statements were fraudulent, largely limiting the trial to damages. Trump is appealing.
The trial began on October 2 and centered on financial documents and expert testimony. It also featured closely watched trips to the witness stand by Trump, his adult children and his former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen.
During defiant and meandering testimony in November, Trump acknowledged that asset valuations on his financial statements were inaccurate but stated any errors were irrelevant to banks that used them to price his loans.
He also lashed out at James, an elected Democrat, and Engoron, accusing them of political bias against him.
Trump lobbed the same grievances to reporters during his occasional court appearances, which he complained were interfering with his campaign.
He had free rein to attack James and Engoron but was barred from speaking publicly about court staff under a limited gag order imposed after he posted about the court's top clerk on social media.
Engoron fined Trump a total of $15,000 for twice violating the order, which Trump is also appealing.
The case carries potentially grave consequences for Trump's real estate empire, the source of his sizable wealth and springboard into politics.
In September, Engoron found Trump liable for fraud and canceled business certificates for crown jewels of his portfolio, including Trump Tower and 40 Wall Street in Manhattan.
That order is on hold while Trump appeals.
Trump faces a raft of other legal troubles as he campaigns to face President Joe Biden in the November 2024 election, including four criminal cases. He has pleaded not guilty.
Follow the latest news on Google News
