The penalty phase of the trial is set to begin, raising questions about the potential impact on Trump’s real estate and hospitality empire in the state.
Prosecutors intend to call Ivanka Trump, who served as a senior advisor in the Trump White House and was involved in the lease of the Old Post Office for the former Trump hotel in Washington, D.C., as a witness. Additionally, former Trump fixer Michael Cohen, who previously testified to Congress about Trump’s alleged practices of inflating asset values for lenders and lowering them for tax purposes, will be called as a witness.
These practices are central to Judge Engoron’s fraud ruling, where he suggested that Trump may have inflated his net worth by as much as $2 billion.
Another key witness for the prosecution is former Trump Organization executive Allen Weisselberg, who pleaded guilty to tax fraud last year. Under a plea agreement, Weisselberg will serve five months in prison in exchange for his testimony.
In response to the ruling and the upcoming trial, Donald Trump’s defense team plans to call 128 witnesses, as reported by NBC.
This legal battle has generated strong reactions from the Trump family. Eric Trump, in particular, expressed his frustration on social media, stating that he had nothing to do with the case and that it was unfair to target his family.
The trial is expected to draw significant attention as it unfolds and could have implications not only for Donald Trump but also for his family members and business interests.
