The fraud lawsuit that could cost Donald Trump control of some of his most prized properties has gone to trial, with New York state lawyers vowing to hold him accountable, while he denounced the case as a politically motivated "scam".The civil case, brought by New York attorney general Letitia James, accuses the business mogul-turned-politician and his company of deceiving banks, insurers and others by habitually misstating his wealth in financial statements."They were lying year after year afte

The fraud lawsuit that could cost Donald Trump control of some of his most prized properties has gone to trial, with New York state lawyers vowing to hold him accountable, while he denounced the case as a politically motivated "scam".The civil case, brought by New York attorney general Letitia James, accuses the business mogul-turned-politician and his company of deceiving banks, insurers and others by habitually misstating his wealth in financial statements."They were lying year after year after year," Kevin Wallace, a lawyer in Ms James's office, said in an opening statement as Trump sat at the defence table.The former president looked straight ahead, arms crossed, facing away from the screen that showed details of Mr Wallace's presentation.Defence lawyer Christopher Kise, in his opening, said the financial statements were true, and suggested the proof was in Trump's business career.