Donald Trump announced he would not take the witness stand for a second time at his fraud trial in New York on Monday, the former US president’s last chance to make his case as he combats a potential $250m fine that hangs over his family business.

Trump had been expected to take the stand again as the hearings draw to a close. But on Sunday he announced on the Truth Social site that he would no longer be making an appearance.

“I HAVE ALREADY TESTIFIED TO EVERYTHING & HAVE NOTHING MORE TO SAY OTHER THAN THAT THIS IS A COMPLETE & TOTAL ELECTION INTERFERENCE (BIDEN CAMPAIGN!) WITCH HUNT, THAT WILL DO NOTHING BUT KEEP BUSINESSES OUT OF NEW YORK, I WILL NOT BE TESTIFYING ON MONDAY. MAGA!” he wrote, signing off with the abbreviation for his Make America great again slogan.

Because Trump was already found guilty of fraud in a September pre-trial ruling, the trial has been over whether Trump and his family knew they were inaccurately representing the value of their assets on financial documents. If found guilty of doing that, Trump will have to pay a fine that could be at least $250m. Trump would also lose his New York business licenses – which would make it impossible for him to run his real estate business in the state – if an appeals court upholds the pre-trial judgment.

  • ImplyingImplications@lemmy.ca
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    11 months ago

    Probably for the best. Last time he was on the stand the judge threatened to kick him off if he mentioned Biden or Democrats or Deep State any more because none of that has been entered into evidence and you can’t just say anything you want on the stand.

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      I don’t even understand why he did it when there were no cameras on him. He wasn’t even performing for his audience. I guess he really is that demented.

      • ZagamTheVile@lemmy.world
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        11 months ago

        Because this isn’t an act. This really is who he is. He’s not showing off for the cameras, it’s not calculated to get attention. He is exactly one layer deep. This is it. This is who he is. An old, fat, spoiled child that has never been told “no” in any meaningful way and has been surrounded by yesmen and sycophants his entire life. He behaves like this around cameras, he behaves like this in a one on one meeting.

        • Dagwood222@lemm.ee
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          11 months ago

          One of the freakiest things I ever saw was a Trump family photo. Donnie, Melania, and five [?] year old Baron. Besides the gold wallpaper, the thing that amazed me was that they had Baron wearign a little business suit and sitting in a toy limo. Because who wants their kid to dream of being a jet pilot or a space man? Make sure he’s programmed from Day One to be a clone.

        • MotoAsh@lemmy.world
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          11 months ago

          The fact that SO MANY still don’t realize this is truly baffling. The only explanation I can come up with is they are also adult children themselves, and thusly do not even know what maturity looks like.

          • oatscoop@midwest.social
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            11 months ago

            One of the most depressing parts of getting older is seeing how many of your peers just stop mentally developing at some point – middle age people for which highschool never ended.

          • ZagamTheVile@lemmy.world
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            11 months ago

            Most of his cult loves him because of this. They love that he’s mean, and a bully, and selfish. He acts like they want to but can’t. They’d have repercussions and consequences, he doesn’t. They get to see a guy behave like they dream about behaving and get away with it. They know exactly who he is, they aren’t being fooled, he’s not conning them. He’s a hero to them because he holds up to the ideals they truly believe in. They totally realize who and what he is. They worship him because of it, not in spite of it.

        • Optional@lemmy.world
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          11 months ago

          Don’t forget that he’s demented. And a sociopath.

          Oh, and a fraud.

          Ah, yes, and a rapist.

          So very. Much best.

        • ares35@kbin.social
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          11 months ago

          there may be a little slurping and grunting in some of his ‘one on one’ meetings.

      • Wiggums@lemmy.world
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        11 months ago

        I think the assumption that it will get out and be discussed is being proven right here, cameras or not his mouth is a megaphone

        • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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          11 months ago

          I guess, but not really at a significant level. Not compared to his press conferences outside the courtroom.