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Trump Decries ‘Vicious’ Case in Courtroom Speech in NY Civil Fraud Trial

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Trump Decries ‘Vicious’ Case in Courtroom Speech in NY Civil Fraud Trial
Former US President Donald Trump sits at the New York State Supreme Court during the civil fraud trial against the Trump Organization, in New York City on Jan. 11, 2024. Shannon Stapleton/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
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Former President Donald Trump speaks as he leaves the courtroom during his civil fraud trial at New York Supreme Court on Jan. 11, 2024 in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Former President Donald Trump speaks as he leaves the courtroom during his civil fraud trial at New York Supreme Court on Jan. 11, 2024 in New York City. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
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Former President Donald Trump speaks as he exits the courtroom for a break during his civil fraud trial at New York Supreme Court on Jan. 11, 2024 in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Former President Donald Trump speaks as he exits the courtroom for a break during his civil fraud trial at New York Supreme Court on Jan. 11, 2024 in New York City. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
Former President Donald Trump exits the courtroom for a break during his civil fraud trial at New York Supreme Court on Jan. 11, 2024 in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Former President Donald Trump exits the courtroom for a break during his civil fraud trial at New York Supreme Court on Jan. 11, 2024 in New York City. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
New York Attorney General Letitia James (C, top) sits in New York State Supreme Court during the civil fraud trial against the Trump Organization, in New York City on Jan. 11, 2024. (Seth Wenig/ Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
New York Attorney General Letitia James (C, top) sits in New York State Supreme Court during the civil fraud trial against the Trump Organization, in New York City on Jan. 11, 2024. Seth Wenig/ Pool/AFP via Getty Images
Former President Donald Trump and his lawyers Christopher Kise and Alina Habba attend the closing arguments in the Trump Organization civil fraud trial at New York State Supreme Court on Jan. 11, 2024 in New York City. (Shannon Stapleton-Pool/Getty Images)
Former President Donald Trump and his lawyers Christopher Kise and Alina Habba attend the closing arguments in the Trump Organization civil fraud trial at New York State Supreme Court on Jan. 11, 2024 in New York City. Shannon Stapleton-Pool/Getty Images
Judge Arthur Engoron attends the closing arguments in the Trump Organization civil fraud trial at New York State Supreme Court in the Manhattan borough of New York City, January 11, 2024. Trump's legal team will deliver closing arguments January 11 in the fraud case after the judge barred the former president from using the trial finale as an election campaign grandstand. (Photo by SHANNON STAPLETON / POOL / AFP) (Photo by SHANNON STAPLETON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Judge Arthur Engoron attends the closing arguments in the Trump Organization civil fraud trial at New York State Supreme Court in the Manhattan borough of New York City, January 11, 2024. Trump's legal team will deliver closing arguments January 11 in the fraud case after the judge barred the former president from using the trial finale as an election campaign grandstand. (Photo by SHANNON STAPLETON / POOL / AFP) Photo by SHANNON STAPLETON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Former President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media as he arrives at the New York State Supreme Court during the civil fraud trial against the Trump Organization, in New York City on Jan. 11, 2024. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images)
Former President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media as he arrives at the New York State Supreme Court during the civil fraud trial against the Trump Organization, in New York City on Jan. 11, 2024. Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images
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Trump Cannot Participate in Closing Arguments in NY Civil Trial, Judge Engoron Says
Trump Cannot Participate in Closing Arguments in NY Civil Trial, Judge Engoron Says
(Left) New York State Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron. (Dave Sanders/Pool Photo via AP) / Former President Donald Trump in the courtroom on on Oct. 17, 2023. Seth Wenig/Pool/Getty Images

New York Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron indicated to attorneys on Jan. 10 that former President Donald Trump likely won’t participate in closing arguments for his civil fraud trial.

Emails posted to the court docket show Justice Engoron telling President Trump’s attorney Chris Kise, “Not having heard from you by the third extended deadline (noon today), I assume that Mr. Trump will not agree to the reasonable, lawful limits I have imposed as a precondition to giving a closing statement above and beyond those given by his attorneys, and that, therefore, he will not be speaking in court tomorrow.”

President Trump’s lawyers, who have already appealed unsuccessfully for a directed verdict on the grounds of prosecutorial bias, will make their case on Jan. 11.

Judge Denies Trump’s Request to Delay Closing Argument in NY Civil Case
Allen Zhong
Judge Denies Trump’s Request to Delay Closing Argument in NY Civil Case
Justice Arthur Engoron presides over the civil fraud trial of former President Donald Trump at New York State Supreme Court, in New York City, on Oct. 18, 2023. Jeenah Moon/Getty Images

Judge Arthur Engoron denied a request from President Donald Trump to delay the closing arguments in the New York civil case.

Chris Kise, one of Mr. Trump’s attorneys, asked the justice to postpone the closing arguments to Jan. 29, because of Mr. Trump is dealing with a “deeply personal family matter.”

“I am sad to advise the Court that Mrs. Trump’s mother passed away this evening. Because of the challenges presented by this deeply personal family matter, President Trump has asked that I request the Court postpone the date for closing argument until on or after January 29, 2024, so that he may attend and participate in the Court proceedings,” Mr. Kise wrote in an email.
Trump to Attend Closing Arguments of New York Civil Trial
Trump to Attend Closing Arguments of New York Civil Trial
Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media as he arrives at the New York State Supreme Court during the civil fraud trial against the Trump Organization, in New York City, on Dec. 7, 2023. Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images

The state attorneys and defense team in former President Donald J. Trump’s civil fraud trial will present closing arguments in a lower Manhattan courtroom on  Jan. 11.

President Trump will also attend the hearing, his second court appearance this week mere days before the Iowa caucuses.

Each side hopes to persuade New York State Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron to issue a ruling consistent with their view of whether the former president and current presidential candidate is liable for misrepresentations in the statements of financial condition (SFCs) presented to lenders over the past decade.