By Jerald Jimenez
02 Oct 2023, 10:25 AM EDT
Former president Donald Trump appeared this Monday before a New York court to face a civil lawsuit that accuses him of having manipulated the value of his properties for tax and credit purposes, and criticized the origin of the complaint he received from the prosecutor. New York General, Letitia James.
Trump, who arrived at the court accompanied by his lawyers, attacked the state attorney general, Leticia James, whom he described as “racist” and for having started a “witch hunt” against him for political reasons.
He also criticized the judge handling the case, Arthur Engoron, whom he called “dishonest,” and assured that his financial statements are “phenomenal” and that he did not commit any crime.
“It’s a scam, a farce. “They want to harm me in an election because I am the Republican favorite,” Trump declared to journalists who were waiting for him at the doors of the court.
The civil lawsuit was filed by Prosecutor James in August, after a two-year investigation into the business practices of the Trump Organization, the former president’s family business.
According to prosecutors, Trump and his company inflated the value of some properties to obtain loans and tax benefits, and reduced the value of others to pay less taxes.
Prosecutor James seeks that Trump pay a fine of $2,500 for each violation of the law, as well as be prohibited from holding management positions in any New York company for ten years.
The trial occurs amid other criminal investigations that also affect Trump and his company in New York and Georgia, related to possible tax, banking and electoral crimes.