US Politics

‘It’s a scam’: Trump protests civil fraud case as trial opens

Lawsuit puts former US President’s control over Trump Tower and other major property holdings at risk

Donald Trump: Republican presidential candidate called the case “an attempt to hurt me in an election” and added: “I don’t think the people of this country are going to stand for it.” Picture: Getty

The fraud lawsuit that could cost Donald Trump control of some of his most prized properties has gone to trial, with New York state lawyers vowing to hold him accountable, while he denounced the case as a politically motivated “scam”.

The civil case, brought by New York attorney general Letitia James, accuses the former US President and his company of deceiving banks, insurers and others by habitually misstating his wealth in financial statements.

“They were ...