Closing arguments in NYAG case begin after judge rescinds offer for Trump to speak in court

Closing arguments in the non-jury civil trial stemming from New York Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit against former President Trump and his business empire are expected to be delivered Thursday.

Trump arrived at the courthouse before proceedings began. 

"This is a unconstitutional witch hunt. It's election interference at the highest level, and it's in coordination with Joe Biden because he can't win an election fairly," Trump said Thursday morning.

The trial began in October, after James sued Trump, his family and his business empire claiming he inflated his financial statements and deceived banks.

Former US President Donald Trump sits at the New York State Supreme Court during the civil fraud trial against the Trump Organization, in New York City on January 11, 2024.  (Photo by SHANNON STAPLETON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

NEW YORK JUDGE ENGORON RESCINDS OFFER FOR TRUMP TO DELIVER CLOSING ARGUMENT IN NYAG CIVIL TRIAL

Trump and his family have denied any wrongdoing. The former president has repeatedly said his assets were actually undervalued. Trump has repeatedly said his financial statements had disclaimers, requesting that the numbers be evaluated by the banks.

Judge Arthur Engoron on Wednesday rescinded the court’s offer for Trump to deliver his own closing argument in the case Thursday.

Trump, before entering the courtroom Thursday, said he wanted to speak, but "at this moment, the judge is not letting me." 

Former US President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media as he arrives at the New York State Supreme Court during the civil fraud trial against the Trump Organization, in New York City on January 11, 2024. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)

"It's a very unfair trial. I have no jury, I really have no rights," he said. "I am hoping to speak and to help my lawyers reveal all of the defects of this case that should have never been brought…everything is good, we have a level of detail in our defense that nobody has ever had." 

Trump slammed James, and said "all she can think is ‘let’s get Trump.'" 

Trump said he will hold a news conference Thursday afternoon. 

Democrat New York Attorney General Letitia James and former President Donald Trump. (Getty Images)

Engoron had initially approved the request for Trump to make his own closing statement, but said the former president would be required to limit his remarks to "commentary on the relevant, material facts that are in evidence, and application of the relevant law to those facts."

Engoron said Trump would be prohibited from introducing new evidence or commenting on "irrelevant matters" and said he could not "deliver a campaign speech" or speak ill of court staff or the attorney general.

However, Trump attorney Chris Kise, in an email to Engoron, said Trump has "been wrongfully demeaned and belittled by an out of control, politically motivated Attorney General" and he should be allowed to "speak about the things that must be spoken about." 

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Kise also requested to postpone closing arguments, citing the death of Trump’s mother-in-law, Amalija Knavs, whom Kise said Trump "was very close to." 

Former first lady Melania Trump made the announcement about her mother’s passing on X late Tuesday.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump appeared in the courtroom for the third day of his civil fraud trial at New York State Supreme Court on October 04, 2023 in New York City. But though his attorneys requested a chance for the former president to speak at closing arguments, Judge Engoron later said he would not be allowed to do so. (Mary Altafeer-Pool/Getty Images)

Engoron said he was "sorry to hear the sad news," but denied the request.

Engoron went on to impose a deadline for Kise to agree, on behalf of Trump, to abide by his rules for the closing argument — a deadline Kise missed.

"Not having heard from you by the third extended deadline (noon today), I assume that Mr. Trump will not agree to the reasonable, lawful limits I have imposed as a precondition to giving a closing statement above and beyond those given by his attorneys, and that, therefore, he will not be speaking in court tomorrow," Engoron wrote in an email Wednesday.

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James filed the lawsuit against Trump "under a consumer protection statute that denies the right to a jury," a Trump spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

A court sketch depicts attorney Jesus Suarez questioning Eli Bartov as former president Donald Trump and Judge Arthur Engoron look on in Manhattan civil court in New York on Thursday, December 7, 2023. (Jane Rosenberg)

"There was never an option to choose a jury trial," the spokesperson said. "It is unfortunate that a jury won’t be able to hear how absurd the merits of this case are and conclude no wrongdoing ever happened."

James is seeking more than $370 million from Trump and his family, claiming the funds would be repayment for the profits she claims were illicitly gained.

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Back in September, Engoron ruled that Trump and the Trump Organization had committed fraud while building his real estate empire, by deceiving banks, insurers and others, by overvaluing his assets and exaggerating his net worth on paperwork used in making deals and securing financing.

In September, Engoron ruled that Trump and the Trump Organization had committed fraud  ((Photo by Erin Schaff-Pool/Getty Images))

"He ruled against me without knowing anything about me," Trump said on the stand during the trial. "He called me a fraud, and he didn’t know anything about me."

Throughout the trial, Trump attorneys brought witnesses, like former Deutsche Bank top executives, who testified the banks sought additional business from Trump, who they viewed as a "whale of a client."

Trump's defense also brought in expert witnesses, like New York University accounting professor Eli Bartov, who reviewed the Trump financial statements at issue in the case and said he found no evidence of accounting fraud.

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Bartov testified last month that Trump’s financial statements didn’t violate accounting principles, and he suggested that anything problematic — like a huge year-to-year leap in the estimated value of his Trump Tower penthouse — was simply an error.

"My main finding is that there is no evidence whatsoever of any accounting fraud," Bartov testified. Trump’s financial statements, he said, "were not materially misstated."