The eldest son of the former President, Donald Trump, 45, lightened the mood by playfully asking the courtroom illustrator to make him appear "s-xy" in her portrayal. He was referring to a recent sketch she had crafted of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, which he claimed made the former crypto billionaire resemble a "rockstar." It's worth noting that the viral sketch of Bankman-Fried, according to Rosenberg, was, in fact, generated by artificial intelligence.
This trial is part of a larger fraud case initiated by New York State Attorney General Letitia James against former President Donald Trump, his adult sons, and the Trump Organization. The allegations revolve around accusations of inflating the former president's wealth by as much as $2.2 billion since 2011. The legal action seeks to prohibit the elder Trump from engaging in business activities in New York and impose a $250 million penalty.
During his testimony, Don Jr. claimed that he had simply "approved" financial statements prepared by Allen Weisselberg, the former CFO of the Trump Organization, and certified public accountants. He stated, "These individuals possessed an exceptional, intimate understanding, and I relied on their expertise."
Don Jr. holds the position of executive vice president of development and acquisitions for the Trump Organization. His younger brother, Eric Trump, who also serves as an executive vice president of the Trump Organization, testified on the same day.
In a separate development, their sister, Ivanka Trump, was compelled to testify, as a judge ruled against her attempt to avoid it. She is expected to take the stand in the coming week.
The former President himself is anticipated to give his testimony in the case in the following week.
President Trump has consistently refuted allegations of overvaluing his properties or his company's assets. However, in September, Judge Arthur Engoron of New York issued a 35-page ruling, asserting that certain properties, including the exclusive Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, were indeed overvalued. The ruling equated such overvaluation with fraudulent activities, stating, "A discrepancy of this magnitude, involving a real estate developer assessing his own long-standing living space, can only be deemed as fraudulent."
Since leaving office in January 2021, the former President's post-White House reputation has been overshadowed by a growing number of investigations into his political conduct and business dealings. As of now, four of these investigations have resulted in indictments, with the first one making him the sole U.S. president to face criminal charges and the subsequent ones further setting him apart as the only president to confront federal charges.
In total, the former President faces 91 criminal counts this year from these four investigations, many of which carry recommended prison sentences.
