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

In a video statement posted to social media, New York Attorney General Letitia James said that the testimony of Donald Trump Jr. yesterday failed to refute any of her case against Donald Trump and his adult sons.

"After spending a full day walking through a marketing presentation to sell us all on the greatness of the Trump Organization, the defendants did not make a single point to refute the case we brought against them," James said of Trump Jr., who led off the defense's case.

Trump's eldest son, an executive VP with the family firm, functionally served as a summary witness to explain the history and notable assets of the Trump Organization, repeatedly using words like "spectacular" and "incredible" to spell out the details of Trump's properties.

James, meanwhile, drew the ire of Donald Trump for appearing to smile in court.

"A.G. Letitia James is smirking all day long from her seat in Court, as New York continues to set records in murder and other violent crimes, and businesses flee to other States," Trump wrote on Truth Social this morning, despite murders in New York City being down nearly 10% this year according to the NYPD.

The defense wrapped up the first day of its case with testimony from Donald Trump's former external tax lawyer, Sheri Dillon, who returned to the witness stand to clarify her actions related to conservation easements at Trump's properties.

Dillon previously testified during a lengthy and combative portion of the state's case.

"Welcome back. I feel like I am at a reunion -- Trump trial reunion," Judge Engoron joked when Dillon returned to the courtroom.

Dillon, explaining a potential gap in email communications about specific deals, testified that she often communicated with Eric Trump over the phone.

"If I picked up the phone and talked to him, I would know he knew what he needed to know," Dillon testified.

She also said she advised Trump's appraiser, David McArdle, that the company could add 40 additional residential units at Trump National Golf Club in New York's Westchester County by filing a new offering plan, according to an email shown in court. The clarification challenges the New York attorney general's allegation that a $101 million increase in the value of undeveloped land was based on an unfounded plan by Eric Trump to add units to the property.

During a short cross-examination, state attorney Louis Solomon attempted to challenge Dillon's authority to provide such legal information to McArdle.

"Do you know if a sponsor has a right to have an offering plan accepted for filing merely because the development meets the requirements for zoning?" Solomon asked.

"No, I do not," she responded.

Dillon concluded her testimony, and court then adjourned for the day.

Speaking outside the courthouse following his testimony for the defense, Donald Trump Jr. told ABC News that he seems to have a positive relationship with Judge Engoron.

"Perhaps there's a New York personality there, but no I think he understood," Trump Jr. said when ABC News suggested he and the judge appeared to get along. "I can't help myself even in this very serious situation. If you take yourself too seriously the world sort of sucks. You got to have a little bit of fun with it, so I did."

His relationship with the judge appears to stand in contrast to that of his father, who has accused Engoron of bias and insulted him from the witness stand.

"We had some quips in the courtroom the first time I was here," Trump Jr. said of Engoron. "Sort of gave me a fist bump on the way out. I guess I had a rather snappy response to something that was -- I can't even remember what it was right now. He said, 'That was really funny.'"

Asked by ABC News whether Trump Jr. shared his father's views about the judge being biased, the son demurred.

"Listen, I don't even know how far the gag order applies, so I don't need to do that and put myself -- I'm in enough crosshairs, guys," he said.

Following the completion of his testimony, Donald Trump Jr. made the first family comments acknowledging the death of his aunt, Maryanne Trump Barry, calling it "a rough day."

"Obviously, a little bit of a rough day, but I've still got to deal with this stuff. We've got to keep doing it. That's the nature of all of this. But no, it's a rough day for myself and my family," Trump Jr. said of the news that former President Trump's sister had passed away at 86.

Trump Jr. also slammed New York Attorney General Letitia James for bringing the civil fraud case despite what Trump Jr. said was "no actual person complaining other than the attorney general herself."

"Hopefully, one day the people of this great city will realize what's going on. They'll realize the destructive practices here. They'll realize just how insane that is. And they'll be begging for guys like Donald Trump to come back to New York City to reshape the skyline as he's done for decades," Trump Jr. said.

He said he does not plan to return to court for the continuation of the defense's case tomorrow.