Donald Trump heading back to court today as New York fraud trial nears end
CBSNOV 2023
NY Fraud Case: Judge Again Denies Trump's Mistrial Motion
Image copyright: Pool/Getty Images News [via Getty Images]
The Spin
Republican narrative
This case is an ultimate embarrassment to America's justice system, as the Democratic prosecutors have gone out of their way to try to impoverish Trump and prevent him from returning to the White House. As usual, they have nothing against him — no victim, fraud, statute violation, intent, materiality, or unlawful gains.
Democratic narrative
Section 63(12) of New York's Executive Law, which was passed at the behest of Republican Attorney General Jacob Javits in the mid-1950s, doesn't require the government to prove financial losses or intention to defraud. The statute defines fraud simply as the continuous submission of exaggerated financial statements — precisely what Trump has made for decades.