The Daily Fuckup

Donald Trump’s legal team took one more swing on Dec. 12, 2023, at getting the New York civil fraud bench trial stopped before the defense case fully wrapped up. Judge Arthur Engoron shut it down, keeping the case alive as the evidentiary phase moved toward its close. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/a63aa7903d9d976be24a6c4e430c9190?utm_source=openai))

The defense was pressing a motion for a directed verdict, a request for the judge to rule in Trump’s favor without sending the case any farther. Engoron refused. The trial was still underway that day, and the court later noted that the nonjury proceeding ran through Dec. 13, 2023, with closing arguments not held until Jan. 11, 2024. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/a63aa7903d9d976be24a6c4e430c9190?utm_source=openai))

The case accuses Trump, the Trump Organization and top executives of overstating asset values and other financial information to secure better loans, insurance terms and business advantages. Trump has denied wrongdoing and argued that the financial statements were accurate enough or were prepared by outside professionals. ([nycourts.gov](https://www.nycourts.gov/LegacyPDFS/press/PDFs/OAGvTrump-PostTrialDecision.pdf))

The ruling did not resolve the merits. It simply rejected another attempt to win on the spot before the judge’s final decision on liability and remedies. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/a63aa7903d9d976be24a6c4e430c9190?utm_source=openai))