Former President Donald Trump attends the trial in a civil fraud case brought by state Attorney General Letitia James against Trump, his adult sons, the Trump Organization and others, in New York, Oct. 2, 2023. His attorney Christopher Kise sits next to Trump.
Seth Wenig | Reuters
An accountant who worked on the tax returns of Donald Trump testified Monday as the first witness at the former president’s $250 million civil fraud trial in New York.
The accountant, former Mazars USA partner Donald Bender, estimated that from 2011 until his retirement he spent an estimated 45% to 55% of his work time on Trump-related work.
“I worked on his tax returns, tax exams,” Bender told Kevin Wallace, a lawyer in the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James.
The accountant also testified he did work on corporate entities controlled by Trump and his children.
Trump, who was seated in the courtroom, appeared agitated at Bender’s testimony toward the end of the day, NBC News reported. His face at times turned red, and at one point he pointed and waved his finger around while whispering aggressively to a defense attorney.
Partner at Mazars USA and longtime accountant for Trump’s businesses Donald Bender testifies near Justice Arthur Engoron, during the trial of former U.S. President Donald Trump, his adult sons, the Trump Organization and others in a civil fraud case brought by state Attorney General Letitia James, at a Manhattan courthouse, in New York City, October 2, 2023 in this courtroom sketch.
Jane Rosenberg | Reuters
Bender took the stand after a tense first half of the day, in which an attorney for Trump clashed with the judge, and the former president stared down James, whose lawsuit is the subject of the trial.
The attorney, Christopher Kise, at one point stood and admonished Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron.
“You owe it to the defendant to listen to the evidence,” Kise said.
Kise also complained about a person included on the list of potential witnesses submitted by James.
During the exchange, Trump shook his head, shifted in his seat and turned toward the gallery, NBC reported.
On his way out of the courtroom for a lunch break, Trump shot an angry glare at James, who was seated behind him.
New York Attorney General Letitia James walks outside the courtroom on the day former U.S. President Donald Trump attends the trial of himself, his adult sons, the Trump Organization and others in a civil fraud case brought by her, at a Manhattan courthouse, in New York City, U.S., October 2, 2023.
Brendan Mcdermid | Reuters
The trial comes a year after James sued him, his company, three of his adult children, and top Trump Organization officials.
James alleged the defendants misstated the values of real estate properties by billions of dollars in business records to obtain better loan and insurance terms, and tax benefits.
Her suit seeks to bar Trump and other defendants from ever running a business in New York again.
Before Monday’s trial began, Trump claimed…
Read More: Trump fraud trial begins in New York court