Donald Trump’s civil fraud trial in New York heads to closing arguments, days before vote in Iowa

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump ’s New York civil fraud trial is back in session Thursday for closing arguments but it won’t be the former president doing the talking.

Trump, the leading contender for the Republican presidential nomination, had angled to deliver his own closing remarks in the courtroom, in addition to summations from his legal team, but a judge nixed that unusual plan Wednesday.

That will leave the last words to the lawyers in a trial over allegations that Trump exaggerated his wealth on financial statements he provided to banks, insurance companies and others.

New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, wants the judge to impose $370 million in penalties. Trump says he did nothing wrong, didn’t lie about his fortune and is the victim of political persecution.

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The former president had hoped to make that argument personally, but the judge — initially open to the idea — said no after a Trump lawyer