Trump civil fraud case: Judge fines Trump $354M, says frauds 'shock the conscience'

After a relatively calm day, tensions flared between Judge Engonon and Trump lawyer Chris Kise, after Kise accused the judge of applying a "double standard" to the defense team.

Defense attorney Jesus Suarez attempted to question Ivanka Trump about a document from the General Services Administration, prompting an objection from state attorney Louis Solomon, who argued that Suarez lacked the foundation to ask about the document.

"I've objected hundreds of times now," an exasperated Kise said, arguing that the state attorneys used documents with less foundation provided.

"I continually object to your constant insinuation that I have some sort of double standard. It's just not true," Engoron replied forcefully.

Ivanka Trump, sitting feet away from Engoron, appeared to watch the exchange in disbelief.

"I wish it were different. I respect your honor's position. I just see these ruling ... frequently going in a different direction," Kise said.

"Their objections have been of greater validity than yours," Engoron shot back.

Following a sometimes-tense direct examination by state attorney Louis Solomon, Ivanka Trump is speaking more comfortably, showing more emotion, and offering more lengthy answers to questions during cross examination.

Asked about why the Trump Organization worked with Deutsche Bank to secure financing for its purchase of the Doral golf club in Miami, she spoke wistfully about the property.

"My father had a deep and nostalgic love for that particular property," she testified.

"He told me he took my mother there," she said with a smile, recalling her father bringing her there when she was a child.

"They were really impressed by what we had done over the course of several years in terms of upgrading and refurbishing the property," Ivanka Trump said.

Deutsche Bank sought to promote its ties to the Trump Organization in marketing materials a decade ago, according to emails shown in court during Ivanka Trump's ongoing cross-examination.

Trump attorney Jesus Suarez showed the emails to demonstrate a key pillar of their defense: that the state's allegations were victimless, and in fact, rather than getting bilked in loan agreements, bankers appreciated -- and even competed for -- the Trump Organization's business.

"I was constantly told by Rosemary and her team how much they appreciated our relationship and ... seeking to grow it," Ivanka Trump testified regarding Deutsche Bank executive Rosemary Vrablic.

Deutsche Bank asked Ivanka Trump to appear in promotional videos for their firm, the emails suggested.

Ivanka Trump acknowledged that she personally received more than $4 million from the Trump Organization's sale of the Old Post Office building in Washington, D.C., last year.

In total, she received $4,013,204 in profit after the building was sold in 2022, according to a document shown in court.

"That is consistent with my recollection, yes," Ivanka Trump said.

New York Attorney General Letitia James had pledged to show that Ivanka Trump personally profited from the fraud the AG says is at the center of the case.

Ivanka Trump has now completed her direct examination and is being cross-examined by defense attorney Jesus Suarez.

Under cross-examination, she repeated that she was not involved with reviewing, approving, or providing values for her father's financial statements, which state attorneys say contained fraudulent valuations.