During Donald Trump’s business fraud trial in New York, his lawyers inadvertently provided faulty evidence that further supported the allegations against him. The New York attorney general has accused Trump, his sons Don Jr. and Eric, the Trump Organization, and other company executives of fraudulently inflating the value of real estate assets to secure more favorable bank loans. When Don Jr. testified on Monday, Trump’s lawyers unintentionally demonstrated how the family misrepresented their assets.
One piece of evidence presented by Trump’s lawyers was a screenshot of a property tax document for the Trump Building, formerly known as 40 Wall Street. The slide described the property as a “72 story landmark building in the Financial District, directly across from the New York Stock Exchange.” However, it was revealed that the Trump Building is actually 63 stories according to filings from New York City and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Additionally, it is situated around the corner from the Stock Exchange, not directly across from it. The Trump Organization’s chief legal officer, Alan Garten, had previously explained that 40 Wall Street has 63 floors of commercial space, but when including the space from 63 to the cupola, the building totals 72 floors.
Another slide displayed by Trump’s lawyers claimed that the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas is 64 stories. However, an architectural drawing indicated that it likely has fewer levels as the floor numbers jump from eight to 16.
These pieces of evidence, shared by Trump’s lawyers to support his case, ended up undermining it instead. New York Attorney General Letitia James has accused Trump of lying about the size and value of his real estate holdings.
Considering the consistent setbacks in his legal disputes, Trump may need to reconsider his legal representation. In addition to the New York fraud trial, his lawyers have stumbled in defending him against the federal indictment for his alleged role in attempting to overturn the 2020 election. One of his lawyers, Alina Habba, involved in the fraud trial, inadvertently undermined his defense in the other case by acknowledging that “everybody was made aware that he lost the election.” Furthermore, Trump’s lawyer John Lauro publicly admitted that Trump asked then-Vice President Mike Pence to delay certifying the nation’s votes, which is illegal.
