courtesy: money control
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Donald Trump’s lawyers on Thursday took a longshot bid to bring an immediate end to the former president’s New York civil fraud case, which threaten his real estate empire.
Judge Arthur Engoron did not rule on the request, however indicated that the trial will go as scheduled with Donald Trump Jr. returning to the witness stand on Monday, as the first defense.
The lawyers had requested the judge to dismiss the case and issue a verdict clearing Trump, his company, and other top executives including Trump Jr. of wrongdoing.
The request was made halfway through the trial of New York attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit, which has claimed that the Trump along with other co-defendants in the case – which includes his two adult sons Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. – has duped the banks by altering its organisation’s financial statements, arguing that the state has failed to prove its case.
Engoron said the defense’s argument, which is for a direct verdict, were “taken into advisement.” He did not address them any further when he returned to the court on Thursday.
The judge has signaled interest in seeing the trial through to its conclusion, asking defense lawyers for witness schedules and pegging closing arguments close to Christmas.