Trump fraud case live news: Ex-US president’s trial begins in New York

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.
Trump calls trial a “witch hunt” as he arrives in the court room for the first day. Trump had said on Sunday that he would be voluntarily attending.Why has Trump decided to appear in court?
While Trump is not expected to testify in the civil case for several weeks, his appearance on Monday marks a significant change to his past practices.

Last year, when his company was convicted of tax fraud, Trump didn’t come to court as either a witness or a spectator, nor did he appear during a sexual assault trial in another civil case.

But this trial has higher stakes for Trump because it could shift control of some of his companies to a court-appointed receiver and force him to give up iconic properties such as Trump Tower in New York.Trump ‘lying year after year’
More from Kevin Wallace, representing the New York State Attorney General’s office.

“They [the Trump Organization] were lying year after year after year,” he said, before adding that “every estimate [of real estate values] was determined by Mr Trump”.Here’s a recap
If you’re just joining our coverage, let’s bring you up to speed with what has happened so far:

It’s day one of the trial of former US President Donald Trump, his two adult sons and the Trump Organization in a lawsuit brought by the attorney general of New York state.
New York Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron last week found that Trump, sons Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump, and the Trump Organization fraudulently exaggerated the value of his assets, lying to tax collectors, lenders and insurers.
The trial, which is expected to last for weeks if not months, will delve into allegations of conspiracy, falsifying business records and insurance fraud. This is a non-jury trial, and the judge will decided Trump’s fate.
Upon his arrival at the Manhattan courthouse, Trump called the case a “continuation of the single greatest witch-hunt”. Attorney General Letitia James said: “No one is above the law.”New York attorney general’s office begins opening statement
Kevin Wallace, representing New York’s attorney general’s office, says in his opening statement that Trump described his finances to banks and insurers in a “materially inaccurate way” for a decade.Former president inside the court
Trump has taken his seat inside the Manhattan courthouse between his lawyers Christopher M Kise and Alina Habba.‘Potentially huge ramifications’ for Trump’s business empire
Al Jazeera’s Gabriel Elizondo is outside the courthouse, and he has this to say:

“These charges are incredibly serious, and if he is found liable, he, the Trump Organization and his adult children – who all play a role within the Trump Organization – could face hundreds of millions of dollars in fines.

“But beyond that, [they] could potentially lose any sort of right to work in commercial real estate in New York state and/or potentially relinquish their rights and holdings to the Trump Organization properties here in New York.

“It has potentially huge ramifications for the Trump Organization and his [Donald Trump’s] business empire.”