Ex-US president arrives at New York court

After a years-long investigation by Democrat New York Attorney General Letitia James, former President Donald Trump and his company are accused of lying about his wealth in financial statements.
James is seeking at least $250m in fines from Trump and a ban against his sons Donald Jr and Eric, from running businesses in New York.Trump calls trial ‘witch hunt’
“This is a continuation of the single greatest witch hunt of all time,” the Reuters news agency quotes Trump as saying, just before he enters the court room.

He adds that the civil fraud trial is tied to what he calls “election interference, plain and simple”.Supreme Court rejects bid to disqualify Trump from election
With all the legal cases swirling over Trump, there have been constant calls from his opponents, including some within his own Republican Party, for him to not run for the presidency next year.

But the US Supreme Court has turned away a case brought forward by one such opponent, long-shot Republican presidential candidate John Anthony Castro, that Trump be disqualified under a constitutional provision barring anyone who “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” from holding office.

A lower court had previously found that Castro lacked legal standing to bring the case forward, and the Supreme Court rejected his appeal.Demonstrators against Trump start trickling in
Anti-Trump protesters have started to gather outside the courthouse, chanting and holding placards.

“Tick-tock, times up,” one banner reads. “Trump is a crime boss,” another says.Trump says he’s facing ‘horrible, un-American decision’
Trump has come out all guns blazing, calling Engoron’s ruling a violation of his civil rights, and labelling it as a “sham”.

“My Civil Rights have been violated, and some Appellate Court, whether federal or state, must reverse this horrible, un-American decision,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The 77-year-old Trump has also taken jibes at Judge Engoron, a Democrat, calling him “unfair, unhinged, and vicious in his PURSUIT of me” on Sunday.

Trump’s lawyer Christopher Kise has taken a more formal approach, calling Engoron’s decision “completely disconnected from the facts and governing law”. Trump’s lawyers have also said that no harm has been committed by the former president’s statements, as banks that had lent him money had been repaid and his companies had done well.