Trump denounces ‘very unfair trial’ from witness stand after New York judge yells at him

NEW YORK — A judge berated Donald Trump on Monday in Manhattan for giving extended answers while the former president was testifying on the witness stand in a civil fraud case, threatening that he would draw a “negative inference” from Trump’s responses.

Judge Arthur Engoron became testy to the point of shouting at Trump’s defense attorneys to “sit down!” after they began responding to Engoron’s complaints that Trump was giving “speeches” instead of answering questions appropriately.

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The scolding from Engoron began when Trump was responding to questions about his financial statements. The former president said he often did not factor in his “brand” value and instead undervalued his assets, countering claims Attorney General Letitia James has made that he grossly exaggerated his wealth over several years.

“Did you ask for an essay on brand value?” Engoron asked James’s attorneys.

Engoron lectured Trump and his attorneys for “editorializing” after Trump claimed he was too busy during a period in 2021 to pay close attention to financial documents because Democrats, “all Trump haters,” were targeting him then. Trump also drew the judge’s ire when he referred to the trial as “crazy.”

Engoron asked Trump’s attorneys to tell their client to answer questions with “yes” or “no.”

“Mr. [Chris] Kise, can you control your client. This is not a political rally,” Engoron said.

Trump’s attorneys argued the questions Trump was being asked were not succinct and therefore did not result in succinct answers.

They also said the questions warranted “narratives” as responses and that Engoron should “want to hear” what Trump, of all witnesses, had to say.

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“I’m not here to hear what he has to say!” Engoron yelled. “Sit down, Mr. Kise! Sit down, Ms. [Alina] Abba!”

Trump then said, unprompted, into his microphone, “This is a very unfair trial. Very, very, and I hope the public is watching.”

Trump was still testifying at the time of this publishing.

This story is developing.