Donald Trump returns to court for summations in civil fraud trial after judge receives bomb threat

Barred from giving a formal closing argument, Donald Trump still got a brief chance to speak in court at the conclusion of his New York civil trial on Thursday, calling the proceedings “a fraud on me'' before the judge cut him off.

“We have a situation where I am an innocent man,” the former president said. “I'm being persecuted by someone running for office and I think you have to go outside the bounds.” After about six minutes, Judge Arthur Engoron — who had denied Trump permission earlier to give a closing statement at the trial — cut him off and recessed for lunch.