Trump New York fraud trial ends first day with tax accountant testimony

An accountant who worked on the tax returns of Donald Trump testified Monday as the first witness at the former president’s $250 million civil fraud trial in New York.

The accountant, former Mazars USA partner Donald Bender, estimated that from 2011 until his retirement he spent an estimated 45% to 55% of his work time on Trump-related work.

“I worked on his tax returns, tax exams,” Bender told Kevin Wallace, a lawyer in the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James.

The accountant also testified he did work on corporate entities controlled by Trump and his children.