Lindsey Graham Melts Down Over Fraud Case Against Trump: ‘What a Friggin Joke!’
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) blasted the fraud case Donald Trump is facing in New York and slammed the valuation of the former president’s Mar-a-Lago estate.
Trump’s civil suit began on Monday. New York Attorney General Letitia James alleges that Trump received $100 million by lying about the worth of his real estate holdings. She is seeking a $250 million fine and the lifetime banishment of Trump and his two adult sons from operating businesses in the state.
The former president’s lawyers say their client did nothing wrong.
“He has made a fortune literally being right about real estate investments,” said Christopher Kise. “There was no intent to defraud, there was no illegality, there was no default, there was no breach, there was no reliance from the banks, there were no unjust profits, and there were no victims.”
Appearing on Monday’s Hannity, Graham was incensed.
“It’s a systematic effort to destroy Donald Trump as a political person,” he said. “His crime was he was a good conservative president. I’ve never seen hatred toward a political figure like I see against President Trump. The left will do anything to ruin his life, to keep him from being president again. And here’s the good news – if you’re a conservative – it’s not working.”
Sean Hannity said Trump’s actions were victimless.
“The banks got paid, the insurance companies got paid!” the host exclaimed. “And by the way, I should add, it says in the contract, don’t go by our valuations because [lenders] have a fiduciary responsibility to do their own fiscal valuations. You’re not gonna take the word of somebody that wants to borrow that kind of money. That’s insane.”
Graham responded by accusing James of performing a political hit job. He then turned his attention to Judge Arthur Engoron for allegedly valuing Mar-a-Lago at $18 million.
“The judge has ruled that President Trump committed fraud and nobody got defrauded!” he said. “The judge believes that Mar-a-Lago’s worth $18 million. What a friggin’ joke! Now, here’s what’s important to people watching this show. President Trump can’t be in Iowa and South Carolina and New Hampshire. But if you live in these states, you can help him by making sure that liberals do not get away with this. Vote for President Trump.”
As it is a civil trial, Trump’s presence was not required, but he chose to attend. The presidential candidate will, however, need to attend the criminal trials he is facing in four jurisdictions.
Engoron pleaded with the media on Monday to stop reporting he was the one who valued the property at $18 million. That figure was given by a Palm Beach County official, who assessed the resort at between $18 million and $27 million. The low estimate baffled real estate experts, as it is too low a figure. Meanwhile, a lawyer for Trump claimed that Mar-a-Lago would sell for about $1 billion.
Trump’s case is being decided by Engoron rather than a jury. According to some reports, Trump’s lawyer Alina Habba forgot to request a jury trial instead of a bench trial. She strenuously denied the report on Monday night.
Watch above via Fox News.
