In the ongoing $250 million civil fraud case against former President Donald Trump and top Trump Organization executives, the defense team began presenting their case on Monday with testimony from Donald Trump Jr., Trump's eldest son and co-defendant.

Last week, New York Attorney General Letitia James rested her case, alleging that Trump and his adult sons inflated their assets to secure better loan terms. Now, the defense team aims to refute these claims and tilt the trial in favor of the former president.

During his previous testimony, Trump Jr. distanced himself from the allegedly fraudulent financial statements and placed responsibility on the accountants and experts who worked with the Trump Organization. He emphasized that as a trustee, he signed off on documents prepared by the accountants, whom he trusted for their expertise in financial matters.

Trump Jr.'s appearance on the witness stand not only provides him with the opportunity to clarify any outstanding issues from his previous testimony but also allows him to take a leading role in defending his father. With the defense's case now in motion, they aim to challenge the prosecution's claims of fraud and argue that there are no victims or injuries resulting from the loan transactions.

The defense's strategy relies on highlighting that the banks involved in the loans to Trump benefited financially from their dealings, further questioning whether the lenders would have provided the loans had they known about the alleged inflated assets.

This defense approach was evident in the cross-examination of former Trump Organization VP Ivanka Trump, where defense attorney Jesus Suarez questioned her about the positive relationship between the Trump Organization and Deutsche Bank, emphasizing that the bank expressed an intention to grow the partnership.

Judge Arthur Engoron, who previously determined that the Trumps used fraudulent documents in their business dealings, ordered the defense's expert witnesses to testify but cautioned that they should not attempt to debate facts already established in the case. Engoron's warning poses a challenge for the defense, as he has faced accusations of bias from the defense team throughout the trial.

Despite these tensions, the defense aims to wrap up its case by December 15, according to Trump’s attorney Christopher Kise. The trial continues to draw attention due to its high-profile nature and allegations against the former president and his family. As the defense presents its case, all eyes will be on the courtroom to see if it can sway Engoron's ruling and ultimately determine the outcome of this significant legal battle.

With the defense's case now in full swing, the trial's conclusion looms closer, and the fate of the Trump Organization executives hangs in the balance. The court proceedings continue to unfold, revealing more insights into the alleged fraud and the defense's attempt to counter the prosecution's claims.