An expert witness who was paid nearly a million dollars to testify in Donald Trump’s civil fraud trial has lost all his credibility. Arthur Engoron, the judge overseeing the case, said this on Monday.
Eli Bartov, an accounting professor at New York University, testified on December 7 that he had not found any evidence of fraud in the financial statements of Trump’s real estate company. However, according to New York State Attorney General Letitia James, Trump deliberately overstated the value of his assets in order to obtain favorable loan and insurance terms.
Bartov testified that he spent 650 hours on the case at a rate of $1,350 (1,235 euros) per hour, meaning his compensation totaled approximately $877,500 (803,000 euros). Bartov said his invoices were paid by both the Trump Organization and Save America, a political action committee supporting Trump’s 2024 election campaign.
“All his testimony proves is that some experts will say whatever you want for about a million dollars,” Judge Engoron wrote in response to several requests from Trump to rule the case in his favor. “By persistently trying to justify every incorrect statement, Professor Bartov lost all credibility,” Engoron said.
Standard hourly rate
In an email, Bartov said Engoron was wrong to say he talked Trump into the mouth. He is said to have discovered inaccuracies in the papers, but according to him there is no question of deliberate fraud. “And as for the suggestion that my billing rate had anything to do with my opinion, this is my standard hourly rate.”
Democratic Attorney General Letitia James is seeking a $250 million fine in the lawsuit and wants Trump barred from all New York state real estate activities. Trump, the leading contender to become the presidential candidate on behalf of the Republicans, denies everything and calls the matter politically motivated. Closing arguments in the trial are scheduled for January 11.
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