The huge corporate empire that helped Donald Trump become famous is at stake in a civil fraud trial that recently got underway in New York.
In order to obtain favorable financing, the former president, his two adult sons, and the larger Trump Organization are accused of greatly inflating the value of their properties by more than $2 billion.
Here are five details regarding the trial to be aware of:
The odds are really high.
A loss would be a serious blow to the real estate enterprise that helped him gain widespread fame before he ran for president.
He has a sizable portion of his own wealth and self-esteem in such holdings. His New York properties alone are worth $720 million of his estimated $2.5 billion, according to a Forbes estimate from earlier this year.
Trump has frequently mentioned his accomplishments in the New York real estate market as a source of personal pride.
His children are involved.
Donald Jr. and Eric, two of Trump's adult children, are co-defendants in the case and listed as witnesses. In 2017, the year their father was elected president, the two took over the leadership of the Trump Organization.
Both of Trump's sons are charged with engaging in what Attorney General Letitia James has called "persistent and repeated fraud" with reference to their businesses, just like their father.
Case's main contention has already been resolved.
Judge Arthur Engoron decided that Donald Trump had materially overstated his wealth.
The judge ruled that Trump's control over a few of his businesses should be terminated. While the specifics of this decision are still unknown, it may require the Trump Organization to sell some of its most recognizable properties or transfer ownership to a court-appointed receiver.
One judge, one attorney general, and no jury.
The impending trial is a bench trial, thus Judge Engoron alone will decide if the co-defendants are accountable and whether there should be any damages or penalties.
Trump has cited the absence of a jury as proof that the trial is unfair, although Engoron claimed that his group never requested a jury.
He is currently facing many trials.
One of several continuing legal disputes the current front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination is dealing with is this civil matter.
He is also charged with three crimes.
Two of them deal with his allegedly unsuccessful attempts to change the outcome of the 2020 presidential election, and a third concerns a misleading accounting of hush money.
What do you think the outcome of this high-stakes trial means for Donald Trump's financial empire and political future?
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