Trump testified in New York: "I'm sure the judge will rule against me..."

Former US President Donald Trump testified before a court in New York, in a trial against him for falsifying property values, which could harm his real estate business.

Trump complained about unfair treatment, and the judge at one point threatened to stop the testimony because of his statements. During the interrogation, the former president often clashed with Judge Arturo Engoron, who is considering whether to punish his company.

Engoron warned Trump that he would not allow him to continue testifying if he did not answer questions directly.

"Mr. Keys, can you control your client? This is not a rally. This is a courtroom," the judge told Trump's lawyer, Christopher Keys.

He later added: "I don't want to hear everything the witness has to say. He talks about a lot of things that have nothing to do with the case or the issues."

Trump often avoided answering questions directly, instead bragging about his assets and wealth and questioning the motive of New York Attorney General Lettisha James to bring the case against him.

"This is a political witch hunt, and I think you should be ashamed of yourself," Trump said.

However, during the testimony, he admitted that his company did not provide an accurate assessment of the value of apartments, golf courses and other real estate.

The prosecutors stated that these values ​​were exaggerated to provide better financial conditions, and the judge already ruled that they were falsified.

Trump claimed that the Mar-a-Lago estate and Doral Golf Club in Florida were undervalued, and his apartment in Trump Tower in New York was overvalued, among other things. However, he tried to play down the importance of the financial assessments, stating that they stated that they may not be accurate, and that the banks did not take them seriously.

He also tried to downplay his direct involvement in the preparation and evaluation of financial statements.

"I was just approving and telling people to give the accountants everything they needed for the reports," Trump said, adding that he had seen the results and "maybe, at one time made certain suggestions."

During his testimony, Trump accused prosecutors of improperly investigating his company after he won the 2016 presidential election.

"I'm sure the judge will rule against me, because he always does. This is a very unfair trial," said the former president.

However, judge Artur Engoron reprimanded him severely for his statements.

New York State Attorney Lettisha James, who Trump criticized on social media, rejected his criticism.

"Only facts and figures matter. Numbers, my friends, don't lie," James said outside the courtroom.

The New York State Attorney's Office, which initiated this case, claims that Trump deceived lenders by falsifying property values ​​and that he got better loan terms. He was increasing the value of his golf courses, apartment buildings and other properties at a time when many refused to do business with him. They claim that Trump received 100 million dollars in this way and increased his wealth by a total of two billion. Trump's sons, Donald Jr. and Eric Trump, have already testified in the proceedings.

Donald Trump is the favorite for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, against whom four other criminal cases are pending. In the current trial in New York, which is civil, Trump does not face jail time, but his image in business circles could be damaged.

Trump said during his testimony that the financial appraisals for many of his properties were incorrect. However, he tried to downplay valuations that prosecutors say were inflated to secure better financial terms.

"They were simply not a very important element in the decision-making process at the banks, and we will explain that as this crazy trial goes on," Trump said in response to prosecutors' questions.

Trump has repeatedly claimed that the case against him is a politically motivated "witch hunt", and on Monday, ahead of his testimony, he said that it was an attempt to undermine his presidential candidacy and a "political war".

New York State Attorney Lettisha James, whom Trump criticized on social media, rejected his statements.

"Only facts and figures matter. Numbers, my friends, don't lie," James said outside the courtroom.

The New York State Attorney's Office, which initiated this case, claims that Trump deceived lenders by falsifying property values ​​and that he got better loan terms. He was increasing the value of his golf courses, apartment buildings and other properties at a time when many refused to do business with him. They claim that Trump received 100 million dollars in this way and increased his wealth by a total of two billion. Trump's sons, Donald Jr. and Eric Trump, have already testified in the proceedings.

Donald Trump is the favorite for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, against whom four other criminal cases are pending. In the current trial in New York, which is civil, Trump does not face jail time, but his image in business circles could be damaged.

The New York attorney general is seeking a $250 million fine as well as restrictions that would prevent Trump and his sons Eric and Donald Jr. from doing business in New York.

Judge Artur Engoron has already revoked the licenses of companies that run a large part of Trump's business, which the former president's lawyers have appealed.

Evidence presented at trial so far has revealed that company officials, including Trump's sons Eric and Donald Jr., attempted to manipulate the value of assets such as the Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

One witness was Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen, who confirmed that the former president instructed him to increase the value of assets in financial reports.

So far, Trump has not had to appear in court, but he has already publicly expressed his opinion about the judge and other participants in the proceedings, saying that Judge Enrogon and Prosecutor James are "politically motivated."

Due to such comments and violation of the ban on publicly commenting on employees of the court, he was fined 15.000 dollars.

Although he cannot participate in pre-election events due to court proceedings, Trump's campaign used the proceedings as an opportunity to raise funds and said that in this case Trump was defending the family against New York Democrats, whom they called "corrupt Democrats".

Republican voters don't seem to mind his legal troubles as polls show him ahead in the party's race for the presidential nomination.

The trial was originally scheduled to last until early December, but could end earlier as the state calls its final witnesses this Sunday. Trump's daughter Ivanka is scheduled to testify Wednesday, although she has not been charged in the case.