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Takeaways From The First Week Of Trump’s Defense In The $250 Million Civil Fraud Trial

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Donald Trump ‘s legal team completed the first week of his defense case in the New York civil fraud trial, continuing to build the former president’s defense around experts who provided a different interpretation of the rules the attorney general claims Trump and his business violated to commit fraud.

Trump’s lawyers called six expert witnesses on accounting, real estate, and surety insurance to refute the attorney general’s charges – and Judge Arthur Engoron’s earlier ruling – that the corporation committed fraud.

Engoron, on the other hand, ruled repeatedly in Trump’s favor in court this week, allowing witness testimony and evidentiary submissions over objections from the New York attorney general’s office.

Engoron frequently ascribed the moderate rulings to his efforts to avoid a case reversal or retrial.

“There’s no jury, no prejudice,” the judge declared. “Allow them to present their defense.”

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Takeaways From The First Week Of Trump’s Defense In The $250 Million Civil Fraud Trial

In a win for Trump, a New York appeals court temporarily lifted Engoron’s gag order on parties, preventing them from discussing his personnel.

Here’s what you need to know about the week in court:

On Monday, Donald Trump Jr. was the first witness in the defense case to take the stand for the second time at trial.

Trump Jr., also a named defendant, provided the court with a colorful history of the Trump Organization, much of which was gleaned from advertising materials on the company’s website.

The attorney general’s lawyers contended that most promotional photo-laden testimony was irrelevant, but Engoron found it important and fascinating.

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Takeaways From The First Week Of Trump’s Defense In The $250 Million Civil Fraud Trial

According to Trump Jr., his father created the family business by taking over run-down properties and utilizing his ” visionary ” skills to transform them into some of the best in the city, country, and, in some cases, the globe.

“He’s a real estate artist.” “He notices things that others don’t,” Trump Jr. remarked of his father.

An appellate judge granted a stay Thursday temporarily blocking Engoron’s gag order, which banned him and his lawyers from discussing the judge’s staff.

“Considering the constitutional and statutory rights at issue, an interim stay is granted,” First Judicial Department Associate Justice David Friedman wrote in a brief statement following an emergency hearing Thursday afternoon.

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Takeaways From The First Week Of Trump’s Defense In The $250 Million Civil Fraud Trial

Engoron already penalized the former president $15,000 for his public complaints about the law clerk who sits next to the judge on the bench and feeds him notes during the trial.

Accounting expert Jason Flemmons testified that there are multiple ways to calculate asset valuations under governing accounting principles, and Donald’s financial statements used compliant methodologies – and to the extent they didn’t, disclosures about those deviations from accounting standards were included in the reports, making them compliant as well.

While 95% of the assets listed on Donald’s 2014 personal financial statement deviated from generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), the statements properly disclosed the deviations, according to Flemmons, a certified fraud examiner previously working for the Securities and Exchange Commission enforcement division.

“I don’t believe that I identified any GAAP departures within these supporting materials that were not covered by disclosure in the accountant’s report [or] notes of the finals statements,” Flemmons said in a written statement.

Flemmons claimed that Mazars, the Trump Organization’s long-time accounting firm, was required by accounting standards to comprehend the business’s procedure for valuing assets and find variances, an apparent attempt to place blame on them. He also testified that Mazars would have had enough information about the asset calculations from the Trump Organization to identify any problems at the time.

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Takeaways From The First Week Of Trump’s Defense In The $250 Million Civil Fraud Trial

Steven Collins, a contract procurement expert, also spoke briefly on Thursday on Donald’s winning bid for the General Services Administration contract for the Old Post Office building in Washington, DC, which he converted into a hotel. Collins stated that records demonstrate that GSA officials knew that Donald Trump’s financial statements showed GAAP deviations but awarded the contract to the Trump Organization.

Steve Witkoff, the former president’s longtime friend and luxury real estate developer, testified earlier this week as an expert in real estate development.

Witkoff said that the two first met in the 1980s when he bought Donald Trump a ham and Swiss cheese sandwich at a New York deli at 3 a.m. since he didn’t have any money on him.

According to Donald Trump’s lawyers, Witkoff’s testimony as a developer who assesses assets in regular business activity should add credibility to how the former president has indicated he evaluated his asset values in his personal financial statements. Witkoff stated that he evaluates properties mostly based on cash flow and what the property can be used for in the future.

He analyzes the worth of a project with an “opportunistic slant” that focuses on how much value can be added to the property.

Dr. Steven Laposa testified that he believes the attorney general’s civil fraud complaint is “flawed” because he alleges Donald Trump used inflated asset valuations on his financial statements based on the assertion that market value appraisals are “true” benchmarks without considering investment values.

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Takeaways From The First Week Of Trump’s Defense In The $250 Million Civil Fraud Trial

Investment values differ from market values because they are based on a set of investment criteria not necessarily representative of the market.

According to a real estate market analysis expert witness, it’s “very common” for appraisers to disagree over the value of the same home, which the former president’s team has claimed throughout the case.

However, during cross-examination on Friday, Assistant Attorney General Louis Solomon questioned the expert’s claim that the complaint was “biased” and “flawed” because the definitions of estimated current market value and market value are the same.

Furthermore, Donald’s financial statements say that the asset valuations in the financial statements are based on estimated current values.

Laposa said Friday that he had never seen that page of the former president’s financial statement before Solomon gave it to him.

SOURCE – (CNN)

Kiara Grace is a staff writer at VORNews, a reputable online publication. Her writing focuses on technology trends, particularly in the realm of consumer electronics and software. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for breaking down complex topics, Kiara delivers insightful analyses that resonate with tech enthusiasts and casual readers alike. Her articles strike a balance between in-depth coverage and accessibility, making them a go-to resource for anyone seeking to stay informed about the latest innovations shaping our digital world.

Celebrity

Inside The Met Gala: A Fairytale Forest, Woodland Creatures, And Some Starstruck First-Timers

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NEW YORK  — James Corden casually held his arms up as if he owned the Metropolitan Museum of Art while strolling through the hallways heading to cocktails. Joking around with Jeff Bezos and his partner Lauren Sánchez, who happened to be strolling behind him, he remarked, pointing to the priceless artwork on the walls. “Let me know if you want me to talk you through any of this.”

Corden, like many celebs, regularly attends the Met Gala; it was all in good humor.

And then there are the novices. No matter how well-known they are in their industry, these guests frequently express awe at the concentration of notoriety around them and some nervousness akin to a child attending a new school.

Consider Stray Kids. The eight members of the K-pop group showed up for their first gala together, each wearing a distinct combination of red, navy, and white that designer Tommy Hilfiger had created. After climbing the magnificent internal staircase to enter the museum, they went to the receiving queue and proceeded to the drink area, where they claimed to have gradually begun to unwind.

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Inside The Met Gala: A Fairytale Forest, Woodland Creatures, And Some Starstruck First-Timers

“At first, we were anxious,” band member Bang Chan admitted. Felix, the bandmate, said, “We had no idea who we would meet or what to expect.” However, they were getting along well and had previously had conversations with Steven Yeun, Chris Hemsworth, and Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons.

The star of “The Bear,” Ayo Edebiri, was also present. She had won numerous honors this year and was attending her first gala. After welcoming hosts Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny, Hemsworth, and Anna Wintour at the top of the staircase, she appeared to be nearly out of breath.

She exclaimed, “I’m really, really, really excited to be here.” “This is yet another truly lovely thing that I will make an effort to keep in mind.”

The accompanying exhibit for the event was titled “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” but it wasn’t really about our beloved Princess Aurora. Instead, the goal was to draw attention to and shed light on delicate clothing items from the museum’s collection that were being “awakened” to the public. Nevertheless, the museum fully embraced the fantasy atmosphere.

Guests passed a massive centerpiece that stood 32 feet tall and symbolized a “whimsical tree” as they entered the Great Hall. Over a forest-like undergrowth with twisted branches that resembled the vegetation Sleeping Beauty’s prince had to cut through to give her a genuine love kiss, enormous green fabric flowers began to blossom. Following that, guests were treated to a live string orchestra and a scene that included actors dressed as forest animals playing in tights and tunics.

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AP News – VOR News Image

Inside The Met Gala: A Fairytale Forest, Woodland Creatures, And Some Starstruck First-Timers

When asked if they would rather see the exhibit or go to the cocktails, most guests opted for the latter. However, a few people attended the event, which was a multi-sensory fashion experience that included touch, smell, sound, and sight. Lena Waithe was “just blown away by the work that I’m seeing” after spending some alone time reviewing the clothing.

Like many others, the actor/producer continued, she finds fashion lighthearted and enjoyable. She remarked, “But then I come here and am reminded that it’s an art form.” She also brought up a comment made by Meryl Streep, who played a role akin to Wintour, to Anne Hathaway in “The Devil Wears Prada,” regarding how our wardrobe choices are predetermined. Waithe stated, “I think we need to be reminded of that, that people who are long gone influence our style.”

After spending the evening away from childcare, late-night host Meyers, who was at the event with his wife, commented that it was a pleasant respite. He also playfully questioned why his children, who are 2, 6, and 8 years old, weren’t invited. Meyers joked, “I think it’s very rude that Vogue didn’t invite them.” This place is kid-friendly. Additionally, they excel at keeping their hands off objects.

Meyers claimed that meeting “a lot of people that I’m a fan of, or have interviewed on the show,” was his favorite part of the evening. Regarding style, however, he prefers to play things safe, saying that “nobody wants a guy like me taking a big swing.” I remain in my lane.

Because Wintour is such a theater enthusiast, a sizable Broadway contingent typically exists at the Met Gala. Jonathan Groff, who was nominated for a Tony Award for “Merrily We Roll Along,” laughed and joked at this gala with fellow “Glee” alum and “Funny Girl” actor Lea Michele. Michele is expecting her second child and looks stunning in baby blue Rodarte. Groff reminisced about other Met Gala appearances, such as one in which he performed the television series “Hair” and another in which Beyoncé appeared and sang her song “Lemonade,” which had just been released a week prior. That was epic, he recalled.

Her clothing scraped the floor with an equally unique sound as Sánchez and Bezos walked through the display. “You won’t be lost,” Bezos said in jest. Sánchez claimed that when she initially tried on the striking design by Oscar de la Renta’s Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim, she had started crying. The flowing skirt was intended to mimic Tiffany’s glass with pearl and mirror appliques.

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AP News – VOR News Image

Inside The Met Gala: A Fairytale Forest, Woodland Creatures, And Some Starstruck First-Timers

Sánchez said, “Use my dress if you need a mirror.” She continued by saying that she believed the outfit represented life, in which everything is somewhat shattered, and what you do with the parts determines the outcome. She also mentioned trying the dress on for Bezos, crying as she said. “He told me I had never looked so beautiful,” she remarked.

Interesting fact: according to Sánchez, Garcia had informed her he needed to get a part from Amazon in order to mend the outfit.

How do you obtain meals for hundreds of chit-chatting celebs around the museum? The organizers have made several attempts. It was a group of buglers one year. In a different year, Jon Batiste led a band snapping across the audience with his melodica. David Byrne did the honors last year. A massive choir with dancers accompanying them performed original song “Future of Us” on Monday. “To dinner!” was yelled by the performers as a bell sounded. The throng then moved slowly to the Temple of Dendur, where tables with “enchanted candelabras entwined with flower arrangements” maintained the fairytale theme.

SOURCE – (AP)

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Elevate Your Style: Unveiling the Timeless Charm of 1930s Mens Fashion

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Elevate Your Style Unveiling the Timeless Charm of 1930s Mens Fashion

Undoubtedly, the 1930s Mens Fashion was the sharpest era for male fashion, with sleek, elegant outfits that oozed style. However, the Great Depression significantly impacted men’s fashion in the 30s, not just cigars and evening wear. The following are some of the most stylish looks of this decade and how you can adapt them to your needs.

With the Wall Street Crash of 1929 leading to the Great Depression, the lack of money could be seen in fashion, as demonstrated in films such as It Happened One Night and Bonnie and Clyde.

For Hollywood and the rich, bigger was better when it came to attire. Double-breasted suits, full-cut trousers, and tuxedos were the standard of what a gentleman should wear in the 1930s.

1930s Mens Fashion: Retro, Gangster, And Hollywood-Esque

It is undeniable that the Great Depression had a substantial impact on men’s fashion. The somber, double-breasted suit of the 30s was a far cry from the flashy style of the roaring 20s.

In spite of the hardships of the time, formal wear made a quick return. However, the availability of newer, cheaper materials made suits more affordable. Sweaters and trousers became more widespread (especially among middle-class families), while useful clothes such as coats became common.

When the economy recovered from the economic crisis, some brighter colors returned to summer fashion once again. Later in the decade, blended and synthetic fabrics made clothing more affordable for many who preferred practicality and comfort over the “all-over-the-place” aesthetic of the 20s.

Highlights Of 1930s Mens Fashion

The Drape Suit

During the 1930s, the classic V-cut suit was very popular due to its imposing silhouette, broad shoulders and long drapes, as well as its softer material that allowed for a great deal of freedom of movement.

Accessories

Due to the popularity of fedoras during the decade, top hats were still sometimes worn on formal occasions. The vibrant colors of the previous decade were replaced with statement pieces, such as wide, colorful neckties. Loafers and brogues were the footwear of choice—fashion choices that are still very popular today.

Here is a look at 1930s Mens Fashion

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1930s mens fashion


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1930s mens fashion


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1930s mens fashion


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George Melly, Soho Jazz Festival, London, 1993.


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1930s mens fashion

During the 1930s, men’s fashion experienced a convergence of style and resilience, navigating the Great Depression with practical yet refined ensembles. In addition to the iconic drape suit, statement accessories like fedoras and wide neckties shaped the era’s aesthetic, combining elegance with flexibility.

Following the onset of economic recovery, a gradual return to color and advances in fabric technology reflected an increasing optimism. There is no doubt that 1930s men’s fashion has left an enduring legacy of sophistication and innovation as a testament to creativity thriving despite adversity.

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Luxury Jewelry Maker Cartier Doesn’t Give Stuff Away, But They Pretty Much Did For One Man In Mexico

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MEXICO CITY — Cartier, the luxury jewelry brand, is not known for giving out gifts, but in the case of one Mexican guy, they pretty much did.

Rogelio Villarreal was browsing Cartier’s website when he stumbled upon an offer that appeared too good to be true. “I broke out in a cold sweat,” he posted on his X account, previously known as Twitter.

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Luxury Jewelry Maker Cartier Doesn’t Give Stuff Away, But They Pretty Much Did For One Man In Mexico

Cartier made a mistake and advertised gold-and-diamond earrings for 237 pesos ($14) rather than the exact price of 237,000 pesos ($14,000). Villarreal ordered two sets.

What ensued was months of back-and-forth, during which he claimed Cartier offered him a consolation gift instead of the jewelry, and Mexican officials supported his argument that the corporation should uphold the listed price.

Villarreal eventually received the earrings last week at his price, and he posted a video online of himself unwrapping them. But he quickly grew tired of the public attention, realizing that not all that glitters is gold, and posted on Monday, “Alright already, talk about something else, I’m tired of the earrings being the only thing anyone knows about my personality.”

Villarreal’s case had become a lightning rod online during a particularly polarizing period in Mexico, ahead of the June 2 presidential elections.

Some onlookers chastised Villarreal for taking advantage of what they perceived as a genuine error by the high-end jewelry manufacturer. Some claimed he should return the earrings or pay taxes on them. Some called him a thief.

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Luxury Jewelry Maker Cartier Doesn’t Give Stuff Away, But They Pretty Much Did For One Man In Mexico

Villarreal, a doctor doing his medical residency, claimed he had to fight for months to get the company to deliver and that it offered to give him a bottle of champagne instead.

The corporation did not reply to inquiries for comment.

“I have the worst luck in the world, and I’ve never made any money, and what I do have is because I bought it,” Villarreal posted on social media. However, he could now purchase two $14,000 sets of earrings for only around $28.

He says he gave one of them to his mom.

“It feels great and it’s cool not to be the underdog for once in my life,” Villarreal said.

Profeco’s representative, Jesús Montaño, validated Villarreal’s account of his struggle.

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Luxury Jewelry Maker Cartier Doesn’t Give Stuff Away, But They Pretty Much Did For One Man In Mexico

“He filed a complaint in December,” Montaño explained. “There is a conciliation hearing scheduled for May 3, but the consumer already received his purchase.”

When asked about ethics, Montaño stated that corporations “have to respect the published price.” If an error occurs, “it’s not the consumer’s fault.”

SOURCE – (AP)

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