Donald Trump Jr. may have inadvertently undermined the defense strategy of his legal team during his testimony on Monday. He referred to the family’s Florida property, Mar-a-Lago, as an “estate” rather than a club, potentially weakening their argument.
In his statement, Trump Jr. proudly stated that his father had purchased one of the most exceptional estates in the world. He described Mar-a-Lago as “amazing” and compared it to an “American castle.” However, despite his attempt to embellish the property’s status, his admission revealed that the Trump family perceives Mar-a-Lago as an estate or residential property.
The valuation of Mar-a-Lago is a key point of contention in the fraud trial against the Trump Organization. Attorneys from the New York state attorney general’s office highlighted discrepancies in deeds and assessments for former President Trump’s international properties, including a development deed for Mar-a-Lago that restricts its status to a club.
Despite the deed restrictions, the New York Attorney General’s office argues that Trump overinflated the value of Mar-a-Lago by presenting it as a private home that could be sold as such. This argument is part of a $250 million bank fraud case aiming to prove that Trump deceived banks and insurers by inflating his net worth, including the value of properties like Mar-a-Lago.
It is worth noting that New York State Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron has already ruled that Trump and his two sons, Don Jr. and Eric, committed fraud in this case.
Overall, Trump Jr.’s slip-up in referring to Mar-a-Lago as an estate rather than a club could potentially harm the Trump Organization’s defense strategy in the ongoing trial.
