Engoron also said he did not find a defence witness to be credible.
Engoron earlier in the day faced a security threat at his suburban home. In the trial, the judge is considering what penalties to impose after earlier ruling that Trump and his company fraudulently manipulated property values.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, an elected Democrat who brought the case, is seeking nearly US$370 million and a lifetime ban on Trump from the state’s real-estate industry.
Trump is the front runner for the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic US President Joe Biden in the November election.
As the trial moved toward its conclusion, Kise argued that James has not produced evidence of harm. “This entire case is a manufactured claim to pursue a political agenda,” Kise said.
Trump can’t deliver closing arguments at New York fraud trial, judge says
Trump can’t deliver closing arguments at New York fraud trial, judge says
The trial’s closing arguments took place in an atmosphere of heightened security after media outlets reported a bomb threat at Engoron’s suburban home. The judge has been a frequent target of Trump’s criticism.
Security has been an issue throughout the months-long trial. Engoron’s top staff member faced threats after Trump criticised her as politically biased, prompting the judge to issue a gag order barring him from disparaging court staff. Trump has been fined US$15,000 for twice violating the order.
Most recently, Engoron on Wednesday denied Trump’s bid to deliver his own closing arguments after the former president would not accept ground rules barring him from making a “campaign speech.”
As James arrived at the courthouse, onlookers cheered and chanted: “Thank you, James.” Police stood guard and tightly controlled entrances to the building.
03:15
Trump gained over US$100 million through fraud, New York says as civil trial starts
Trump gained over US$100 million through fraud, New York says as civil trial starts
Trump, who has denied wrongdoing and criticised the trial as a “witch hunt,” renewed his attacks on James during a break on Thursday.
“She sued me because she wanted the publicity,” Trump said.
Trump has complained that the trial is interfering with his presidential campaign but has used occasional court appearances to argue that he is the victim of political persecution.
Engoron will issue a verdict at a later date without a jury. He found Trump liable for fraud in September, leaving the trial to focus largely on how much money Trump should surrender as ill-gotten gains.
Trump on trial: do US presidents have immunity from the law?
Trump on trial: do US presidents have immunity from the law?
Trump has appealed Engoron’s prior order and is almost certain to appeal any verdict against him, which could delay a final judgment for many months to a year or more.
Throughout trial, the state’s lawyers sought to show that Trump consistently overvalued many of the towers, golf clubs and other assets that burnished his reputation as a business mogul before he entered politics.
Trump admitted to providing inaccurate property valuations during defiant and meandering testimony in November.
Kise argued on Thursday that any alleged manipulation was harmless. Kise said banks and insurers would have been eager to do business with Trump even if his net worth was far lower, Kise said. “He’s a whale client,” Kise said.
The trial earlier featured a tense face-to-face reunion between Trump and his one-time lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen, who testified that Trump directed him to manipulate asset values. Kise on Thursday called Cohen a “serial liar”.
Trump’s adult children Donald Jnr, Eric and Ivanka Trump also testified, saying they had little involvement in that aspect of the business. Unlike her brothers, Ivanka Trump is not a defendant.
Republican voters in Iowa and New Hampshire will be the first to decide their preferred nominee this month to face Biden. Trump’s legal troubles have not diminished his commanding lead over party rivals.
Trump also has pleaded not guilty in four criminal prosecutions, including two that charge him with unlawfully trying to overturn his 2020 election loss to Biden. All could go to trial before this year’s election.