Trial Probes Responsibility For Financial Statements

October 5, 2023 5:08 am

NEW YORK (AP) — The trial that could block former President Donald Trump from doing business in New York is drilling down on a major question: Was it his company or was it hired accountants that bore responsibility for financial statements that the state calls fraudulent. Accountants were on the witness stand Wednesday, with Trump at the defense table for part of a third day. Lawyers for state Attorney General Letitia James are seeking to show that the accountants relied entirely on information supplied by Trump and his company. His attorneys are trying to pin blame on accounting firms for any problems with the statements. Outside the courtroom, Trump’s lawyers appealed a key pretrial ruling that he engaged in fraud by puffing up the values of prized assets. Trump denies any wrongdoing.