Trump Gives His Own Closing Argument — Decries ‘Witch Hunt’ And Says He’s An ‘Innocent Man’

Topline Former President Donald Trump defended himself in court Thursday during closing arguments of the civil fraud trial against him and his company, claiming to be an “innocent man” and decrying the “witch hunt” against him after Judge Arthur Engoron initially refused to let him speak. Former U.S.

President Donald Trump speaks as he leaves the courtroom during his civil fraud trial at ... [+] New York Supreme Court on January 11 in New York City. Key Facts Trump spoke in court after his attorneys finished delivering their closing arguments in the civil fraud trial, which accuses him and his co defendants—including his sons—of fraudulently misstating the value of assets on financial statements in order to obtain more favorable business deals and reflect a higher net worth for Trump.

Engoron had previously rescinded his initial approval for Trump to speak in court, with emails made public Wednesday showing Trump’s lawyers refused to agree to terms that would prohibit Trump from criticizing the judge, “comment[ing] Kise asked again on Thursday if Trump could speak, and while Engoron asked if Trump promised if he would stick to the facts and the law, the ex president started speaking without agreeing first, railing against the “political witch hunt” against him.

Trump claimed that he should be paid damages instead of the state because the case was a “fraud on me” and called himself an “innocent man” who has been “politically persecuted,” as quoted by MSNBC , and attacked Engoron and New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought the case against him.

Engoron eventually asked Trump attorney Christopher Kise to “control your client” and cut Trump off from speaking further, per MSNBC . What To Watch For Closing arguments will continue Thursday, and Engoron is set to issue a verdict in the case in the coming weeks, likely before the end of January.

The judge will issue the verdict and decide punishments himself, as there’s no jury in the trial. The state is asking for a range of punishments against Trump and his co defendants, including $370 million that would be largely paid by Trump himself and his businesses—up from $250 million the attorney general’s office initially requested.

James is also asking Engoron to bar Trump from the real estate industry in New York or leading any New York based companies for life, for his sons to be prohibited from running New York companies for five years, and to block the defendants from making any commercial real estate acquisitions for five years.

Engoron already found Trump and his co defendants liable for fraud before the trial began—the trial is moving forward on other allegations, like if that fraud was committed knowingly, and to determine damages—and ordered Trump’s business certificates to be canceled, though an appeals court has put that on hold.

This story is breaking and will be updated. Further Reading Inside The Courthouse: Trump Team Makes Closing Arguments In Fraud Case (Forbes) Trump Arrives In Court For Final Day Of Fraud Trial (Forbes) Trump Fraud Trial: Here’s What We Learned From Months Of Testimony As Case Nears End (Forbes).