Trump Defies Judge’s Orders & Delivers Closing Arguments In Fraud Case, Judge Tells His Lawyers ‘Control Your Client’

Former President Donald Trump‘s high-stakes fraud trial concluded with a dramatic turn of events in the closing arguments on Thursday when, despite strict orders from Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron, Trump managed to circumvent the judge’s restrictions and deliver his own summation.

Initially, Judge Engoron had denied Trump’s unprecedented request to personally address the court on Wednesday due to concerns that he would deviate from the authorized topics. However, after his legal team’s closing arguments were complete, Trump’s attorney, Chris Kise, made a final plea to the judge to allow the Trump to speak.

Engoron asked Trump if he would adhere to the established ground rules, which included the restrictions that Trump must refrain from campaign-style speeches and direct attacks on individuals involved in the case. He was also forbidden from introducing any new evidence.

Without answering Engoran, Trump instead launched into a tirade that challenged the judge’s directives on nearly every level.

Trump said, “When you say don’t go outside of these things, we have a situation where I’m an innocent man, I’m being persecuted by someone running for office, and I think you have to go outside of the bounds.”

Engoron allowed this rant for approximately six minutes, but halted Trump at the criticism of Engoron’s “agenda” and the assertion, “You can’t listen for one minute.” Engoron addressed Trump’s attorney, “Mr. Kise, please control your client.”

Trump chose not to remain for the New York attorney general’s closing argument and departed the courtroom for his Wall Street skyscraper to address reporters.

New York Attorney General Letitia James‘ (D) civil fraud lawsuit against Trump seeks remedies that include seizing a staggering $370 million in illicit profits and permanently prohibiting Trump, his former finance chief Allen Weisselberg, and controller Jeffrey McConney from any future participation in the real estate industry. Additionally, she aims to bar Trump’s sons from involvement in the industry for five years.

Engoron’s pretrial ruling determined that Trump, along with his sons Eric and Donald Jr., and the former top executives, had engaged in sustained and repeated fraud over the years. This involved inflating the value of properties such as Mar-a-Lago in Florida and Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue to secure favorable loan terms in dealings with banks, lenders and insurance companies.

The three-month trial, which Trump attended on nine occasions, saw the former president subjected to a limited gag order on the second day after he disparaged the judge’s principal law clerk online. Trump was fined $15,000 for his violations of the order twice. Throughout the trial, he took the witness stand twice and testified for a total of just over three hours. His testimony repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and portrayed himself as a victim of a politically motivated “witch hunt.”

In the coming weeks, Engoron will issue a written verdict on the remaining six claims. Although the case is civil, the allegations involve criminal conduct.

Despite Trump’s maintained hold on far-right Republicans, a recent survey by YouGov America has revealed that the majority of Americans support the Colorado Supreme Court’s recent decision to remove Trump from the state’s 2024 presidential primary ballot.