Trump abruptly leaves court after heated Cohen testimony, second gag order violation

Former President Donald Trump returns to the court room after a break in his civil fraud trial at State Supreme Court on Wednesday in New York City. The case brought last September by New York Attorney General Letitia James accuses Trump, his eldest sons and his family business of inflating Trump's net worth by more than $2 billion by overvaluing his real estate portfolio. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Former President Donald Trump abruptly left a New York City courtroom Wednesday after his former attorney walked back his 2019 congressional testimony that Trump never directed him to change financial documents that inflated Trump's net worth.

Michael Cohen later clarified his response, saying Trump didn't directly ask him to inflate the numbers, but it was inferred.

"Donald Trump speaks like a mob boss. He tells you what he wants without specifically telling you," Cohen said. "We understood what he wanted."

Trump's attorneys called for Judge Arthur Engoron to immediately dismiss the civil case based on Cohen's new statements. When the judge refused, Trump swiftly left the courtroom with his Secret Service detail scrambling to catch up.

Outside the courtroom, Trump told the press, "The witness just admitted that we won this trial. And the judge should end this trial immediately."

Former President Donald Trump enters the courtroom on Wednesday in New York City. The case brought last September by New York Attorney General Letitia James accuses Trump, his eldest sons and his family business of inflating Trump's net worth by more than $2 billion by overvaluing his real estate portfolio. Photo by Louis Lanzano/UPI
Former President Donald Trump enters the courtroom on Wednesday in New York City. The case brought last September by New York Attorney General Letitia James accuses Trump, his eldest sons and his family business of inflating Trump's net worth by more than $2 billion by overvaluing his real estate portfolio. Photo by Louis Lanzano/UPI

Trump's quick departure also came after the presiding judge fined the former president $10,000 for his second violation of a gag order that bars him from talking about court staff.

Former President Donald Trump sits in court with his attorneys during his civil business fraud trial in New York on Wednesday. Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen testified against the former president at the hearing. Photo by Seth Wenig/UPI
Former President Donald Trump sits in court with his attorneys during his civil business fraud trial in New York on Wednesday. Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen testified against the former president at the hearing. Photo by Seth Wenig/UPI

The judge also ordered Trump to the witness stand.

Judge Arthur Engoron asked Trump, "Did you say, 'This judge is a very partisan judge with a person who is very partisan sitting alongside of him?'"

Former attorney for Donald Trump, Michael Cohen, enters the courtroom on Wednesday in New York City. The case brought last September by New York Attorney General Letitia James accuses Trump, his eldest sons and his family business of inflating Trump's net worth by more than $2 billion by overvaluing his real estate portfolio. Photo by Louis Lanzano/UPI

Trump said, "Yes," but said he was referring to his former attorney, Michael Cohen, who was seated in the witness chair next to the judge

Earlier, Engoron said Trump's comments suggested he was speaking about a law clerk. Trump's attorney Chris Kise said Trump was referring to Cohen.

New York Attorney General Letitia James enters the courtroom as former President Donald Trump attends his civil fraud trial at the New York State Supreme Court in New York on Wednesday. Trump is accused of inflating the value of his properties by billions of dollars to obtain favorable loan terms from banks. Photo by Dave Sanders/UPI
New York Attorney General Letitia James enters the courtroom as former President Donald Trump attends his civil fraud trial at the New York State Supreme Court in New York on Wednesday. Trump is accused of inflating the value of his properties by billions of dollars to obtain favorable loan terms from banks. Photo by Dave Sanders/UPI

"It's easy for the public or anyone to know who that is," Engoron said, suggesting Trump was commenting about his law clerk. "I'm very protective of my staff, and I believe I should be. I don't want anybody killed."

Engoron imposed the gag order in early October barring Trump from comments about court staff. On Oct. 20, Trump was fined $5,000 for violating the order.

Former President Donald Trump sits in court with his attorneys during his civil business fraud trial in New York on Wednesday. Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, testified against the former president at the hearing. Pool photo by Seth Wenig/UPI
Former President Donald Trump sits in court with his attorneys during his civil business fraud trial in New York on Wednesday. Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, testified against the former president at the hearing. Pool photo by Seth Wenig/UPI

The comments come during the second day of a $250 million lawsuit that alleges Trump and his co-defendants repeatedly committed fraud by inflating assets on financial statements to get better terms on commercial real estate loans and insurance policies.