Donald Trump appeared in a New York City courtroom on Monday (October 2) in a civil fraud case that could deal a major blow to the former US president’s real estate empire.
Trump, the front-runner in the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, is accused by New York Attorney General Letitia James of inflating the value of his assets by billions of dollars to secure better loan and insurance rates.
Trump has called the case a political witch-hunt.
The trial comes a week after the judge presiding over the case found Trump liable for fraud and will largely concern the penalties he must face.
James is seeking at least $250 million in fines, a permanent ban against Trump and his sons Donald Jr and Eric from running businesses in New York and a five-year restriction on commercial real estate activities by Trump and his flagship Trump Organization.
(Source: Reuters)
