Donald Trump turns his legal battles into campaign spectacle

USA: Appearing in court in New York at the end of the civil fraud case against the Trump Organization on Thursday, Donald Trump insisted on having his say.

The judge had previously said the former president would not be able to speak in the courtroom but eventually relented and gave him a few minutes.

He used that platform to accuse the city’s attorney general of hating him before striding out of the courtroom and declaring the case a “sham” to waiting reporters.

But that wasn’t enough. A full news conference followed at a building he owns – and is accused of fraudulently valuing – at 40 Wall Street down the road.

Mr Trump is treating his court appearances as though they are campaign events, blending his legal defence with his re-election bid as a US presidential race like no other kicks into high gear.