Donald Trump Jr. lauds dad’s real estate exploits as ex-president's civil fraud trial begins defense
In a return trip to the witness stand, Donald Trump Jr. has waxed exuberantly about his family business and what he called his father's «incredible vision” as a developer
NEW YORK — Donald Trump Jr. returned to court Monday as something of a character witness for his father's real estate empire, waxing exuberantly about the former president’s “incredible vision” and portfolio of “great, iconic projects» at the New York civil fraud trial now threatening his company’s future.
The namesake son made an encore appearance at the Manhattan trial as defense lawyers started calling their own witnesses. Trump Jr. first testified two weeks ago, called in by New York State Attorney General Letitia James' office, which is suing the Trump family business.
“I’d say it’s good to be here, your honor, but I have a feeling that the attorney general would sue me for perjury if I said that,” he joked Monday before embarking on a detailed and rosy history of the family's Trump Organization.
James, a Democrat, alleges Donald Trump, his company and top executives, including sons Eric and Donald Trump Jr., exaggerated his wealth by billions of dollars on his annual financial statements. The documents were given to banks, insurers and others to secure loans and make deals. James is seeking more than $300 million in what she says were ill-gotten gains, and she wants the defendants banned from doing business in New York.
The defendants deny any wrongdoing, and the former president and current Republican front-runner insisted in fiery testimony last week that his company is “the opposite of fraud.” Eric Trump and his sister Ivanka Trump, a former Trump Organization executive and White House adviser, also took the stand.
Trump Jr.’s testimony
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