, and Judge Arthur Engoron who already ruled last week that Mr Trump and his business had committed fraud. Let's take a closer look at seven of Mr Trump's claims. This is very important to Mr Trump. He believes there should be no case because "there was no crime". "No bank was affected. No bank was hurt," he said moments before the start of the trial, noting that all his loans were paid back on time. Under this New York statute, however, the attorney general did not have to show that there were victims, only that Mr Trump committed ongoing fraud. "This trial was railroaded and fast-tracked," the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination said. "This trial could have been brought years ago, but they waited until I was right in the middle of my campaign." Mr Trump has cast this trial, as well as other lawsuits and indictments, as an attempt to hurt his bid to return to the White House next year. But the investigation into these fraud claims began four and a half years ago, when Trump was still president, after his former fixer Michael Cohen went public with the Trump Organization's accounting practices. Judge Engoron reminded Mr Trump's lawyer on Monday that the judge has already dismissed claims the lawsuit was poli){kind=link}
Donald Trump made a passionate opening statement, of sorts, on the first day of his fraud trial in New York.
The former president was not giving evidence – instead, he stopped just outside the courtroom to address reporters before the historic hearing began.
After a few stern looks at the camera, he launched into a lengthy preview of what his lawyers are expected to argue during the civil case again him, his two adult sons and the Trump Organization.
He also lobbed accusations against New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought the fraud charges and is seeking a fine of $250m (£207m), and Judge Arthur Engoron who already ruled last week that Mr Trump and his business had committed fraud.
Let’s take a closer look at seven of Mr Trump’s claims.