A former lawyer for Donald Trump testified Tuesday at the former president’s financial fraud trial in New York, where he claimed that Trump’s advisers were ordered to inflate the value of his assets to “any number we were told.” said Trump.” He said.
The former attorney, Michael Cohen, confronted Trump, who was present at the hearing. Cohen spent time in prison and is now a key witness for the prosecution in the case filed by New York State Attorney General Letitia James.
The lawsuit alleges that Trump and his company inflated the value of their assets in financial statements provided to banks, insurance companies and others in order to obtain deals, contracts or loans under soft loans. term.
“I received orders from Mr. Trump to raise the value of his total assets, based on a number he arbitrarily chose,” Cohen said, noting that he and Allen Weisselberg, former chief financial officer of the Trump Organization, trying to ” analyze different types of assets, increase their value, to reach the number that Mr. Trump asked us.”
Asked what that number was, Cohen replied: “Whatever number Trump told us.”
Trump has denied James’ allegations, and outside court, he dismissed Cohen’s statements as the words of “a proven liar” who is serving time in prison after pleading guilty. of tax evasion, lying to Congress and violating campaign finance rules.
“I’m not worried about his testimony in the least,” Trump said. “Look at his record. You can see that he is not a reliable witness. ”
This is the sixth day this month that Trump has voluntarily gone to court to personally witness the proceedings. Cohen said it was the first time he had seen Trump in five years.
“What a reunion!” Cohen commented sarcastically during a hearing break. Later, outside the courtroom, he said: “This is not about Donald Trump vs. Michael Cohen or Michael Cohen vs. Donald Trump. It’s about accountability, as simple as that.”
After Cohen took the stand and began answering questions about his career and judicial record, Trump occasionally whispered to his lawyers. At other times, the former president sat leaning against the desk, staring intently, or leaning back with his arms crossed.
