In the end, former President Donald Trump spoke to the court from the defense table in his civil fraud trial.
Trump's remarks came during closing arguments, which remain ongoing.
“The facts are the financial statements are perfect, that there are no witnesses against us. The banks got all their money paid back. There were great loans,” Trump maintained, echoing remarks he has previously made in public.
Trump spoke for approximately five minutes before accusing Judge Arthur Engoron of having his own agenda.
“I certainly understand that,” the GOP front-runner persisted. “You can't listen for more than one minute.”
At that point, Engoron told one of Trump's lawyers to “control your client.” The judge eventually cut Trump off.
Engoron ruled on Wednesday that he wouldn't allow Trump to speak during his attorneys' closing arguments because he wouldn't agree to avoid personal attacks.
NBC News further reports on the unprecedented courtroom display:
Speaking from the table sitting next to his lawyers, Trump spoke to denying all wrongdoing while Engoron quietly listened.
Trump maintained that banks “got all their money back” and “they weren't defrauded” while repeating his call to receive damages “for what we've gone through.”
The former president accused James' office of not providing one document proving her allegations of inflating his financial statements and argued that the case presents a “situation where I”m an innocent man.”
“The legal scholars looking at this case find it disgraceful,” he said, adding “this is a fraud on me.”
During his remarks, Trump referred to New York Attorney General Letitia James as “the person in the room right now [who] hates Trump.”
James is asking Engoron to fine Trump and his co-defendants over $370 million and impose a lifetime ban on Trump and two former company executives from the New York real estate industry.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
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