By Wonderwall.com Editors
3:00pm PST, Feb 16, 2024
_
Donald Trump's civil trial in a fraud case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James kicked off on Oct. 2, 2023, and continued for months, stretching into early 2024. Following 44 days of testimony, closing arguments took place on Jan. 11, 2024.
Judge Arthur Engoron — who'd already ruled that the former president committed "persistent and repeated" fraud by grossly overvaluing assets including office towers, golf courses and his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida — also heard six remaining claims (including falsifying business records, issuing false financial statements and insurance fraud) and was charged with determining how much the onetime reality TV star could owe in penalties for his fraudulent business practices.
Well, on Feb. 16, Judge Engoron issued his penalties ruling: He ordered the former president and the Trump Organization to pay $364 million in damages. The judge also barred Trump "from serving as an officer or director of any New York corporation or other legal entity in New York for a period of three years."
Join us as we take a look at some of the best photos of the former POTUS, his co-defendant sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, daughter Ivanka Trump and other players from the trial — plus his team's McDonald's delivery and tense images from the day of closing arguments — during their court appearances, starting with this shot…
Former President Donald Trump sat in court during closing arguments in the Trump Organization civil fraud trial at New York State Supreme Court in the Manhattan borough of New York on Jan. 11, 2024. He was facing fines that ballooned up to a potential $370 million in penalties since the trial began for inflating the value of assets to get favorable loans from banks.
Keep reading for more photos and details on what happened…
MORE: Follow Wonderwall on MSN for more fun celebrity & entertainment photo galleries and content
_
Former President Donald Trump is seen here in court during closing arguments in the Trump Organization civil fraud trial at New York State Supreme Court in the Manhattan borough of New York on Jan. 11, 2024. He's facing fines that have ballooned up to a potential $370 million in penalties since the trial began for inflating the value of assets to get favorable loans from banks.
_
Former President Donald Trump spoke to the media outside court before closing arguments in the Trump Organization civil fraud trial at New York State Supreme Court in the Manhattan borough of New York on Jan. 11, 2024. He's facing fines that have ballooned up to a potential $370 million in penalties since the trial began for inflating the value of assets to get favorable loans from banks.
While speaking to reporters outside the courtroom before closing arguments, he called the lawsuit against him and his company an "unconstitutional witch hunt."
Drama ensued ahead of closing arguments before anyone got in the courtroom. Emails exchanged between Judge Arthur Engoron and one of Trump's attorneys show the judge was initially open to letting Trump deliver remarks during the final proceedings so long as they stuck to the relevant facts of the case.
"He may not 'testify.' He may not comment on irrelevant matters. In particular, and without limitation, he may not deliver a campaign speech, and he may not impugn myself, my staff, plaintiff, plaintiff's staff, or the New York State Court System…" the judge explained.
But after Trump's lawyers missed a series of extended deadlines, Newsweek reported, the judge decided Trump could not make remarks.
However, Trump still started talking in court and quickly went out of bounds…
MORE: Stars react after judge finds Donald Trump guilty of fraud
_
Judge Arthur Engoron presided in court prior to closing arguments in the Trump Organization civil fraud trial at New York State Supreme Court in the Manhattan borough of New York, on Jan. 11, 2024.
During closing arguments, Donald Trump spoke from the defense table for about five minutes, leading the judge to finally cut him off as he continued to go off topic despite warnings not to.
"This was a political witch hunt," Trump said in part, claiming, "we should receive damages."
The judge ordered Trump attorney Chris Kis to "please control your client."
Trump further told the judge, "You have your own agenda."
MORE: Stars react to Donald Trump's mug shot and claim he weighs 215 pounds
_
Former President Donald Trump sat in court during closing arguments in the Trump Organization civil fraud trial at New York State Supreme Court in the Manhattan borough of New York on Jan. 11, 2024. He's facing fines that have ballooned up to a potential $370 million in penalties since the trial began for inflating the value of assets to get favorable loans from banks.
He's also facing a permanent ban from running a business in New York state.
He was told he could not make his own closing arguments after his lawyers objected to Judge Arthur Engoron's insistence that Trump stay within the bounds of "relevant, material facts that are in evidence" of the case, though he ultimately spoke, went out of bounds and was rebuked by the judge.
_
New York State Attorney General Letitia James attended closing arguments in the Trump Organization civil fraud trial at New York State Supreme Court in the Manhattan borough of New York, on Jan. 11, 2024.
_
Protesters gathered outside of New York Supreme Court in New York City during closing arguments in former President Donald Trump's civil fraud trial on Jan. 11, 2024.
_
Donald Trump's security team carried bags from fast food chain McDonald's outside the New York State Supreme Court building in New York City on Oct. 2, 2023, as the former president's civil fraud trial began.
_
Ivanka Trump, former President Donald Trump's daughter, left New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan after testifying at his civil fraud trial on Nov. 8, 2023.
She was the prosecution's final witness in the fraud case against her father and brothers, in which New York Attorney General Letitia James is seeking $250 million in damages — a figure that ballooned to $370 million as the case went on.
_
Former President Donald Trump sat in the courtroom during day two of his civil fraud trial at the State Supreme Court building in New York City on Oct. 3, 2023. This case was filed in September 2022 by New York Attorney General Letitia James, who accused Trump, his eldest sons and his family business of inflating his net worth by more than $2 billion by overvaluing his real estate portfolio.
_
Former President Donald Trump returned from a court recess and spoke to the media during his civil fraud trial in New York State Supreme Court in New York City on Dec. 7, 2023.
It's been alleged that he and his two eldest sons conspired to inflate his net worth on financial statements provided to banks and insurers to secure loans.
_
Donald Trump Jr., the executive vice president of development and acquisitions for Trump Organization Inc., shared a laugh with his legal team during trial at New York State Supreme Court in New York City on Nov. 2, 2023.
He was there to testify in the civil case filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James, who's accused former President Donald Trump, his eldest sons and his family business of inflating his net worth by more than $2 billion by overvaluing his real estate portfolio.
_
He's back! After a few weeks away from the halls of justice, former President Donald Trump returned in early December.
He's seen here exiting the courtroom to speak to the press, followed by son Eric Trump, during a break in his civil fraud trial in New York City on Dec. 7, 2023. The former POTUS, his adult sons and the Trump family business are facing a lawsuit brought by the state of New York accusing them of inflating the value of assets to get favorable loans from banks.
_
Justice Arthur Engoron sat in his courtroom during the civil fraud trial of former President Donald Trump at New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan on Oct. 24, 2023.
Trump may be forced to sell off his properties after Judge Engoron canceled his business certificates and ruled that he committed fraud for years while building his real estate empire after being sued by Attorney General Letitia James, who's seeking $250 million in damages — a figure that ballooned to $370 million as the case went on.
The trial will determine how much Trump and his companies will be penalized for the fraud.
_
Attorney General Letitia James sat in court during former President Donald Trump's civil fraud trial at New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan on Nov. 2, 2023.
Donald Trump Jr., executive vice president of the Trump Organization — who's seen in the foreground — began testifying the previous day concerning allegations that he, his father and brother Eric Trump conspired to inflate Trump Sr.'s net worth on financial statements provided to banks and insurers to secure loans.
_
Eric Trump, executive vice president of Trump Organization Inc., spoke to the media as he left father Donald Trump's civil fraud trial where he testified in New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan on Nov. 3, 2023.
_
Former President Donald Trump waited to take the witness stand at New York Supreme Court in New York City on Nov. 6, 2023.
_
Former President Donald Trump made a zipped-lips gesture as he walked out of the courtroom during a break before testifying in his civil fraud case at the State Supreme Court of New York in Manhattan on Nov. 6, 2023.
_
Former President Donald Trump's son and co-defendant, Donald Trump Jr., attended the Trump Organization civil fraud trial in New York State Supreme Court in the Manhattan borough on Nov. 2, 2023.
_
Donald Trump Jr. — who's the executive vice president of development and acquisitions for the Trump Organization Inc. — spoke to members of the media outside the New York State Supreme Court building in New York City on Nov. 13, 2023.
_
Michael Cohen — Donald Trump's former personal lawyer — arrived at New York State Supreme Court in New York City on Oct. 25, 2023, to testify in the former president's civil fraud trial.
_
Alina Habba, a lawyer for former President Donald Trump, was photographed in a New York City courthouse on Nov. 1, 2023, during the ex-POTUS's civil fraud trial.
_
Former President Donald Trump sat in the courtroom during day two of his civil fraud trial at the State Supreme Court building in New York City on Oct. 3, 2023.
This case was filed in September 2022 by New York Attorney General Letitia James, who accused Trump, his eldest sons and his family business of inflating his net worth by more than $2 billion by overvaluing his real estate portfolio.
_
Former President Donald Trump sat in the courtroom during his civil fraud trial at New York State Supreme Court in New York City on Nov. 6, 2023.
He was scheduled to testify in the civil fraud trial that alleges that he and sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump conspired to inflate his net worth on financial statements provided to banks and insurers to secure loans.
New York Attorney General Letitia James has sued seeking $250 million in damages — a figure that ballooned to $370 million as the case went on.
_
Former President Donald Trump spoke to the media as he arrived for day two of his civil fraud trial at the State Supreme Court building in New York City on Oct. 3, 2023.
The case was filed in September 2022 by New York Attorney General Letitia James, who accused Trump, his eldest sons and his family business of inflating his net worth by more than $2 billion by overvaluing his real estate portfolio.
_
Donald Trump Jr. left the courtroom for a break during his civil fraud trial at the New York State Supreme Court building in New York City on Nov. 13, 2023.
He was the first witness called by the Trump defense team during the trial concerning allegations that he, brother Eric Trump and their father, former President Donald Trump, conspired to inflate Trump Sr.'s net worth on financial statements provided to banks and insurers to secure loans.
_
New York State Attorney General Letitia James (center) sat in the courtroom for day two of Donald Trump's civil fraud trial at the State Supreme Court building in New York City on Oct. 3, 2023.
She's accused Trump, his eldest sons and his family business of inflating his net worth by more than $2 billion by overvaluing his real estate portfolio.
_
Former President Donald Trump attended his civil fraud trial at the New York State Supreme Courthouse in Manhattan on Oct. 24, 2023.
