Civil Fraud Case Against Trump: Eric Trump Returns to the Stand
Eric Trump, in testimony that was combative throughout Thursday, distanced himself from the Trump Organization’s financial statements and blamed outside auditors.
“I never worked on the statement of financial condition,” he testified in the civil fraud case brought by the New York attorney general. The case includes as suspects Eric Trump, his brother Donald Trump Jr., former President Donald J. Trump and the family business – which Eric Trump ran.
Andrew Amer, a lawyer on the attorney general’s team, spent much of his hours-long investigation refuting Eric Trump’s claim. For example, he showed that Eric Trump was likely aware of the statements when he was working on a golf club deal in North Carolina a decade ago.
Near the end of Thursday’s court hearing, Mr. Amer also elaborated on the value of the family’s golf club in Westchester County, N.Y., in an attempt to show that Eric Trump had ignored an independent appraisal of the property when he an employee advised on how much it was worth. was worth it.
Mr. Trump disputes that he pays much attention to appraisals, despite Mr. Amer showing several emails in which he corresponded with an appraiser about appraisals.
“I’m an operator, I’m a construction guy,” Mr. Trump said irritably. “I build projects. I don’t focus on ratings.”
His behavior was in stark contrast to that of his brother, who seemed to accept his duties on the stand with ease.
Mr. Amer seemed to think he had gained the upper hand. In the closing moments of the day, he made a point of telling the courtroom that Eric Trump’s testimony was “great” and “beneficial to our case.”