New York University Stern School of Business research professor, Eli Bartov, took the stand on Thursday to defend Trump, stating that he found "no evidence here of concealment" during his review of the financial statements at the center of the case.

During Friday's proceedings, Bartov was questioned about the payment he had received for his services. It is a common practice in the US legal system for expert witnesses to be compensated. In a deposition from July, Bartov revealed that he was being paid $1,350 per hour for his involvement in the case. He further stated that he had dedicated approximately 650 hours to the matter, amounting to a total payment of $877,500.

In contrast, the prosecution's sole expert witness, Michiel McCarty, Chairman and CEO of investment bank MM Dillon & Co, is said to have been paid around $350,000 for his testimony, as reported by ABC News.

Under questioning from lawyers representing New York's attorney general, Bartov confirmed that the funds for his services came from both the Trump Organization and the former president's political action committee, Save America.

The charges against Trump, his adult sons, and company executives allege that they intentionally inflated the value of their assets in order to secure more favorable loans. All parties involved vehemently deny these allegations.

Following Bartov's testimony, Trump spoke to reporters, praising the accounting expert's findings. He asserted, "He found absolutely no fraud, accounting fraud of any kind. This is a highly respected man. I don't know him, but he's an expert witness."

The case will continue with Trump taking the stand for a second time on Monday, while Bartov is slated to return to the witness stand on Tuesday. As the trial progresses, the potential financial implications and the credibility of expert witnesses remain at the forefront of the courtroom drama.