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Donald Trump Jr. returned to Manhattan Supreme Court on Monday, the first witness called by the defense in the $250 million fraud case against him, his ex-president father, younger brother Eric and the Trump Organization.

This time Don Jr., 45, faced friendly questioning by Trump lawyers seeking to rebut New York Attorney General Letitia James’ claims about the family business.

The state’s civil suit alleges that Trump, 77, Don Jr. and Eric, the family business, and executives lied for a decade on annual financial statements, exaggerating his net worth by billions a year to dupe banks and get better loan and insurance terms.

Don Jr.’s testimony was filled with gushing over the former president — including saying his father was “very good at” finding “the sexiness in a real estate project.”

AG James rested her case last Wednesday with testimony by his sister Ivanka Trump.


  Donald Trump Jr. sits in the courtroom with his attorneys Christopher Kise (left) and Alina Habba (far right) ahead of his defense testimony in the civil fraud trial against the Trump Organization, Monday, Nov. 13 at New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan. Getty Images Donald Trump Jr. sits in the courtroom with his attorneys Christopher Kise (left) and Alina Habba (far right) ahead of his defense testimony in the civil fraud trial against the Trump Organization, Monday, Nov. 13 at New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan. Getty Images

  Judge Arthur Engoron on the bench Monday, his clerk alongside him, ahead of Don Jr.’s testimony. The eldest Trump son — a defendant in the case along with his ex-president father, younger brother Eric and the Trump Org — has been called as the defense’s first witness. Attorneys for NY AG Letitia James’ office rested after questioning Ivanka Trump in court on Wednesday, Nov. 8. REUTERS Judge Arthur Engoron on the bench Monday, his clerk alongside him, ahead of Don Jr.’s testimony. The eldest Trump son — a defendant in the case along with his ex-president father, younger brother Eric and the Trump Org — has been called as the defense’s first witness. Attorneys for NY AG Letitia James’ office rested after questioning Ivanka Trump in court on Wednesday, Nov. 8. REUTERS

He was previously called to testify by state’s attorneys, who questioned him for less than four hours about his role as an executive vice president for the Trump Organization.

In his testimony earlier this month, Trump Jr. said he never worked on the annual financial statements central to James’ argument and instead relied on the company’s longtime finance chief and outside accounts to verify their accuracy.

This live blog has ended.

What we covered:

Tax attorney takes the stand after Don Jr., grilled about Trump property appraisals for 90 minutes

By Kyle Schnitzer and Ben Kochman

Sherri Dillon, a tax lawyer at law firm Morgan Lewis and a former outside counsel to the Trump Organization, was called to the stand by the Trump attorneys next.

She was grilled for about an hour and half about appraisals she worked on for the Trump Seven Springs estate in Westchester County and the Trump National Golf Club Westchester in Briarcliff Manor.

The former president's lawyers have said they plan to present their defense through Dec. 15, and it's possible Trump will be called to the stand again between now and then.

Tax lawyer Sheri Dillon was called to the stand next after Don Jr. by Trump's attorneys.
Tax lawyer Sheri Dillon was called to the stand next after Don Jr. by Trump's attorneys. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg

Eric Trump will be among the witnesses, the legal team confirmed, though it's unclear exactly when he will be testifying.

Donald Trump Jr. calls dad ‘artist of real estate,’ testifies about ‘very sexy’ properties

By Kyle Schnitzer , Ben Kochman and Priscilla DeGregory

Donald Trump Jr. showcased his salesmanship skills on the stand Monday — painting his dad as an “artist of real estate” while detailing his family’s “very sexy” property portfolio at his New York civil fraud trial.

Don Jr., 45, returned to Manhattan Supreme Court to testify in the $250 million case — this time to face friendly questioning by Trump defense lawyers seeking to rebut New York Attorney General Letitia James’ claims about the family business.

“He’s an artist with real estate. He sees things that other people don’t,” Don Jr. said about the former president as he testified about dad Donald Trump’s real estate prowess.

Donald Trump Jr. referred to his father as an "artist of real estate" during his court testimony.
Donald Trump Jr. referred to his father as an "artist of real estate" during his court testimony. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg
Donald Trump Jr. referred to his father as an "artist of real estate" during his court testimony.
Don Jr. testified about the Trump Organization's “very sexy” property portfolio. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg

James alleges that Trump, 77, his sons Don Jr. and Eric, his company the Trump Organization and executives lied for a decade on annual financial statements, exaggerating his net worth by billions a year to dupe banks and get better loan and insurance terms.

After James’ office put on its case for the last six weeks — including calling Trump, his eldest sons and his daughter Ivanka to testify — the ex-president’s legal team began presenting its defense with Don Jr. as the first witness.

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Don Jr.: My 7-minute cross-examination was 'boring;' 'overzealous' AG James wants to 'destroy all of New York business'

By Ben Kochman and Priscilla DeGregory

Don Jr. also spoke outside the courthouse after he wrapped his testimony on Monday, calling cross-examination by the AG's lawyer "boring."

“It was a boring cross-exam," the former first son said outside. "I think that they understand that they have nothing as it relates to a case other than, I guess, an overzealous attorney general who would destroy all of New York business by going after transactions where there are no victims.”

Donald Trump Jr. called the cross-examination by the AG's lawyer "boring" after leaving court.
Donald Trump Jr. called the cross-examination by the AG's lawyer "boring" after leaving court. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
Don Jr. accused James of wanting to "destroy all of New York business."
Don Jr. accused James of wanting to "destroy all of New York business." Stephen Yang for NY Post

The eldest Trump son echoed comments his father has repeatedly made, calling the case a "witch hunt" and ripping the AG as going after them for political reasons.

Don Jr. says it's been a 'rough day' for him, family after aunt Maryanne Trump Barry's death

By Priscilla DeGregory

Don Jr. told reporters after he finished testifying that it's been a "rough day" for himself and his family following the news that his aunt Maryanne Trump Barry died.

"Obviously, it’s a little bit of a rough day but I still have got to deal with this stuff," the former first son said just steps outside the 60 Centre St. courtroom. "It’s been a rough day for myself and my family ... and her grandson."

Donald Trump Jr. said it has been a "rough day" for his family after his aunt  Maryanne Trump Barry died.
Donald Trump Jr. said it has been a "rough day" for his family after his aunt Maryanne Trump Barry died. Stephen Yang for NY Post
The former president's older sister passed away at the age of 86.
The former president's older sister passed away at the age of 86. REUTERS/David Moir/File Photo

Don Jr. also lauded the good things the Trump Org has done for New York City and bashed the AG's case, saying her prosecution of the Trumps "would set a precedent to make it impossible for anyone wanting to do business in and around New York City."

He said once New Yorkers realize what happened, "They will be begging for God for Donald Trump to come back to New York City to reshape the skyline as they've known it."

Don Jr. finishes testimony after brief questioning by the AG's office

By Kyle Schnitzer and Priscilla DeGregory

Don Jr. finished testifying after very brief questioning by AG lawyer Colleen Faherty.

Faherty began her cross-examination around 2:41 p.m. and ended around 2:48 p.m. after asking a series of questions suggesting that the Trump Org was no longer a thriving company.

Donald Trump Jr. took the stand a the Trump Organization's fraud trial for just seven minutes.
Donald Trump Jr. was questioned by the AG's office at the Trump Organization's fraud trial for just seven minutes. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg

"Didn’t the 18th hole of this golf course literally fall into the ocean?” Faherty asked of a California oceanside club.

“Yes," Don Jr. answered.

Don Jr. comes back into courtroom after lunch break

By Kyle Schnitzer and Priscilla DeGregory

Don Jr. walked back into the courtroom at 60 Centre St. after a lunch break.

He did not speak to the media during the break after the judge warned him not to comment about his testimony.

When the former first son started up again, he began speaking about another Trump property, Trump Turnberry, a golf course on the coast of Scotland.

Inside Derek Jeter’s $18M penthouse atop 'very sexy' Trump World Tower

By Jennifer Gould

[Originally published April 20, 2012]

It’s the ultimate New York bachelor pad.

Here’s a never-before-seen look inside Derek Jeter’s swinging 88th-floor penthouse atop Trump World Tower at UN Plaza on the East Side.

The 5,425-square-foot captain’s quarters boasts 360-degree views of Manhattan, four bedrooms, 5 1/2 baths, an eat-in kitchen and a fireplace.

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Don Jr. steps off witness stand for lunch break

By Kyle Schnitzer and Priscilla DeGregory

Don Jr. stepped off the witness stand for a lunch break after testifying about a slew of Trump Organization properties.

The former first son is slated to resume testimony at 2:15 p.m.

Get to know Alina Habba, the female attorney on Trump’s civil defense team

By Isabel Vincent and Ronny Reyes

New Jersey lawyer Alina Habba went from a relatively unknown civil litigation attorney to a national name when she was hired by former President Donald Trump in 2021.

The glamorous former fashion executive is now one of the top legal minds defending the ex-commander-in-chief in some of the country’s most high-profile civil cases. She is also one of his closest confidantes.

When Trump, 76, pleaded not guilty to history-making federal charges of mishandling classified records, Habba was right there to support him — even though she isn’t representing him in the precedent-setting criminal proceedings.

Alina Habba, right, holding a MAGA clutch pocketbook and wearing a FJB necklace, poses with Woody Johnson at the UFC fight in Madison Square Garden, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023.
Alina Habba, right, holding a MAGA clutch pocketbook and wearing a FJB necklace, poses with Woody Johnson at the UFC fight in Madison Square Garden, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. Instagram/Alina Habba

Speaking outside the Miami federal courthouse as Trump’s spokesperson, the brunette firebrand came out swinging against the prosecution, describing the charges against her client as a political hit job.     

“The decision to pursue charges against President Trump while turning a blind eye to others is emblematic of the corruption that we have here,” Habba, 39, insisted. 

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Trump turned swamp into 'special' golf course in Florida: Don Jr.

By Kyle Schnitzer , Ben Kochman and Priscilla DeGregory

Donald Trump "truly created something special from swampland" when he built Trump National Golf Course in Florida, Don Jr. testified.

The Trump Organization acquired the land, where no one else saw value, in 1999, the former first son said.

Donald Trump Jr. testified that the Trump Organization turned a "flat swampland" in Florida into the Trump National Golf Course.
Donald Trump Jr. testified that the Trump Organization turned a "flat swampland" in Florida into the Trump National Golf Course. Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images

"It was literally a flat swamp in West Palm Beach, Fla.," he testified. "Everyone looked at him like he was crazy, but I think it’s one of the finest golf courses in the world.”

Alina Habba, Trump's firebrand lawyer, spotted with her clients at UFC over the weekend

By Tamar Lapin

Alina Habba, Donald Trump's firebrand female lawyer, was spotted at a UFC match over the weekend holding a clutch bedazzled with "MAGA" -- the initials of the ex-president's slogan "Make America Great Again" -- and wearing a necklace with the letters "FJB."

Habba, who was pictured with Donald Trump Jr. and New York Jets owner Woody Johnson at the match, ditched the accessories for court on Monday.

New York Jets owner Woody Johnson and Trump lawyer Alina Habba at the UFC match.

Habba is holding a MAGA clutch and wearing a “FJB” necklace. pic.twitter.com/b4n8SIDbfm

— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) November 13, 2023

The glamorous attorney also posed for a picture with Trump, 77, who flashed a thumbs up, flanked by musician Kid Rock and UFC President Dana White.

Derek Jeter lived at 'very sexy' Trump World Tower in Manhattan: Don Jr.

By Kyle Schnitzer , Ben Kochman and Priscilla DeGregory

Don Jr. testified that Derek Jeter lived at the Trump World Tower in Manhattan during friendly questioning by Trump lawyers at a fraud trial.

“It became a very popular building. Derek Jeter lived there, a very sexy place," the former first son said.

The eldest Trump son spent Monday morning gushing about the family real estate empire and his dad.

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