4:30 p.m. ET, November 8, 2023
The New York Attorney General’s Office has discontinued its civil action against Donald Trump, his adult sons and their business.
By CNN’s Lauren del Valle, Kara Scannell and Jeremy Herb
The New York Attorney General’s Office has dropped its civil suit against former President Donald Trump, his adult sons Donald Jr. and Eric and their business.
The trial has so far lasted almost six weeks with testimony from a total of 25 witnesses, 24 of them in person.
Ivanka Trump was the last witness called before the attorney general’s office completed its case. She followed the testimony of her father and her brothers Donald Jr. and Eric.
Judge Arthur Engoron had already ruled before the start of the trial that Donald Trump and his co-defendants had committed “persistent and repeated” fraud.
The judge is now considering how much the Trumps will have to pay in damages for profits they allegedly made through fraudulent business practices, including inflating Donald Trump’s financial statement value.
The attorney general is seeking to prove six additional allegations, including falsifying business records, publishing false financial statements and insurance fraud.
The attorney general is also seeking to ban the Trumps from doing business in New York.
The trial saw plenty of fireworks, including the judge fining Donald Trump twice totaling $15,000 for violating his silence order barring anyone from commenting on his staff. The former president had repeatedly criticized Engoron’s law clerk.
Donald Trump appeared in court for a total of seven days, where he attacked New York Attorney General Letitia James, the judge, and the case against him.
He did the same when he took the stand earlier this week with lengthy speeches during his testimony that drew multiple reprimands from the judge.
Trump’s lawyers are expected to begin their defense Monday and have indicated they will finish it by mid-December.