Trump's latest furious rant against fraud trial destroyed by fact-checker

Former President Donald Trump was soundly fact-checked on Tuesday morning by legal reporter Adam Klasfeld following a Truth Social rant about the civil fraud case that's ongoing against himself and his adult sons in New York State.

"I will be attending the trial in Manhattan this morning," wrote Trump. "I greatly appreciate all of the legal professors and scholars that are saying I DID NOTHING WRONG. I can’t have a JURY and am being viciously tried under a Statute that has never been used before. The Radical Left Democrat Judge, WHO IS HIGHLY POLITICAL, serves as Judge, Jury, and everything else. America cannot let this happen. Our legal system is corrupt and broken! Everything emanates from Washington, 'GET TRUMP.'"

Klasfeld, a senior legal correspondent for The Messenger, was quick to point out in a post on X that several of Trump's claims were incorrect.

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For one thing, Klasfeld noted, Trump doesn't name any of the "legal professors and scholars" who are supposedly proclaiming his innocence. And more importantly, "Executive Law 63(12) has, in fact, 'been used before' — at least half a dozen times in the last few years," including one case brought against e-cigarette company Juul Labs.

New York Attorney General Letitia James is arguing in her case that Trump and his sons committed civil fraud by systematically misstating the value of the Trump Organization's properties in order to obtain better loan terms. Trump has denied this, arguing that his valuations are subjective and that there was no actual injury because all the loans were repaid as agreed.

Judge Arthur Engoron has already ruled on the merits for James in summary judgment, and the current trial is purely about determining damages. James is seeking $250 million in fines and a ban on Trump from doing any business in the state.