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

Testifying for the defense, former President Trump's eldest son described his father as a real estate "visionary" who "sees the sexiness in a real estate project," creating value for the family business that cannot be captured on paper.

Donald Trump Jr. began his testimony with a quip after Judge Engoron welcomed him back to the stand following his testimony earlier in the month.

"I'd say it's good to be here, but the attorney general would probably sue me for perjury," Trump Jr. joked.

In his testimony, Trump Jr. described the Trump Organization as "a large family business," with Trump and his eldest children at the top and other executives handling many of the details.

"If there were numbers and things, I would rely on them to give me that," Trump Jr. said.

He recounted the history of the Trump Organization, beginning with his great-grandfather who he said built hotels in the Yukon Territories of Canada. His grandfather, Fred Trump, "started working on job sites around Queens, learned the trades" and eventually "created an incredible portfolio, by the time of his passing, of rental apartments in Brooklyn and Queens."

A state attorney jokingly objected that references to the 1800s were outside the statute of limitations -- then more seriously objected to the history lesson's relevance.

"I think it is relevant to get the historical perspective -- I find it interesting," Judge Engoron said in overruling the objection. "Let him go ahead and say how great the Trump Organization is."

Trump Jr. obliged.

"My father learned a lot of the business from him, but had some flair and saw New York City and Manhattan as the ultimate frontier," he said. Speaking of Trump Tower, he said, "I think it would have been one of the first, I think great, ultra-luxury real estate emerging in Manhattan."

"Would you like to call your first witness, defense?" Judge Arthur Engoron asked to begin court this morning.

"The defense calls Donald Trump Jr. to the stand," defense attorney Clifford Robert responded.

Like his last time on the witness stand when he was called by state attorneys, Trump Jr. appears comfortable on the stand, punctuating his testimony with lighthearted remarks.

Robert began his direct examination with some questions about Trump Jr. 's biography, starting with his graduation from the University of Pennsylvania.

"Was a bartender for about 18 months," Trump Jr. said about his first job out of college.

"Did you enjoy that?" Robert asked.

"I did," said Trump Jr., joking that he had a challenging conversation with his father when he began that job.

Donald Trump Jr. and his defense lawyers arrived at the New York State Supreme Courthouse this morning to be met with a small crowd of protestors chanting "crime family."

Trump Jr. did not make a statement before entering the courthouse, but offered a brief response to a question about his expected testimony.

Asked what he plans on saying today on the stand, he replied, "We'll see what I'm asked."

New York Attorney General Letitia James arrived at court shortly after Trump Jr. and took a seat in the courtroom with her staff.

Donald Trump Jr. took in some ultimate fighting ahead of his scheduled return to the witness stand this morning.

Trump Jr. attended a UFC doubleheader at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night with his father, in addition to Tucker Carlson, Kid Rock, and UFC president Dana White.

"I legitimately can't think of a better squad to roll with," Trump Jr. posted on social media.

Earlier that day while speaking at a campaign rally in New Hampshire, Donald Trump appeared to joke about appointing White to a position in a potential future administration.

"He's a guy I'd like to make my Defense Chief. I wouldn't call him my defense chief. I'd call him my 'Offense Chief.' He'd be my Offense Chief," Trump said.