Trump on Day 2 of New York civil trial on business empire: 'I think it's going very well'

Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he thought his civil fraud trial was "going very well" as he left court for a second day in a row before New York Judge Arthur Engoron in Manhattan on charges brought by Democratic New York Attorney General Letitia James.

As he left the courtroom Tuesday, Trump told reporters that he expected to testify in the case.

"I think it's going very well," he also said, adding that he had provided "everybody" with "extremely strong" financial statements in his defense.

Engoron ruled last week that the former president was responsible for defrauding banks and insurers by inflating the value of his properties, which would have secured benefits such as better loan terms and cheaper insurance. 

Trump said the financial statements specifically include disclaimers stating that the numbers cannot be trusted.

"This case is a scam. There can't be fraud when you've told institutions to do their own work. This case is a fraud and it is a scam," he also said as he left court.

Before heading into the courtroom Tuesday, Trump called James "grossly incompetent" and said Engoron was using "misleading information and corrupt information" for the case.  

"Because of the fraudulent numbers" that James gave regarding Trump's net worth, the case "should be dismissed," Trump also said Tuesday.

"She should probably be dismissed also because she's terrible," Trump also said. "At a minimum, [James] should start looking for the murders and the criminals, the violent criminals all over New York, do something about all of the illegal migrants pouring into our city and state, and not spend the next six months in a courthouse because she's been caught early. Her numbers are fraudulent. She's a fraud."

Trump also appeared in court Monday, which is different from his previous practices. The former president did not show up in court when former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg pleaded guilty last year to tax fraud, nor did he appear for proceedings earlier this year that resulted in a jury finding him liable for defamation and battery against author E. Jean Carroll. 

Trump is not having a trial by jury on the charges brought by James. A spokesperson for the former president told Fox News Digital that the nature of the charges prevents a jury trial from even being requested. 

"The Attorney General filed this case under a consumer protection statute that denies the right to a jury," the spokesperson said. "There was never an option to choose a jury trial. It is unfortunate that a jury won't be able to hear how absurd the merits of this case are and conclude no wrongdoing ever happened."

The judge, however, said that the trial would not have a jury because "nobody asked for" one, according to The Messenger. However, even if Trump's team had requested a jury trial, it is unlikely that the request would have been approved, according to legal experts cited by the outlet.

Trump is not expected to testify in the case for several more weeks.

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