Hi there, everyone. Happy Monday. It's 4 o'clock in New York. So each of the civil and criminal

cases brought against Donald Trump, and at this point there are plenty to choose from

slice right to the core of his persona in unique and distinct ways, contempt for the rule

of law, a disregard for our very democracy, even an embrace of political violence. But

the trial has started today in Manhattan. That $250 million civil fraud lawsuit brought

by New York Attorney General Latisha James against Donald Trump, Trump's company, and

his two adult sons, is fundamentally different from those. It cuts deep into Trump's most

base instincts, his compulsive need to exaggerate the size of all things. His willfully and knowingly

penchant for lying over and over again, defrauding his customers and the public. Well, at least

that's according to Attorney General Tish James. Today, both sides delivered opening statements.

The Attorney General's team sought to convince the judge in this case that Trump should be

barred from doing business in the state of New York. According to our NBC News colleagues

inside the courtroom, a lawyer inside James' office, Kevin Wallace, suggested that while it

may be one thing to exaggerate the size of stuff for Forbes Magazine or on TV in front

of viewers, quote, you cannot do it while conducting business in the state of New York. Here's

the Attorney General's message on that this morning.

My message is simple. No matter how powerful you are, no matter how much money you think

you may have, no one is above the law. And it is my responsibility and my duty and my job

to enforce it. The law is both powerful and fragile. And today in court, we will prove

our case. I thank you all for being here. And again, justice will prevail.

Now, over on earth two Trump's defense lawyers made polar opposite arguments saying that's

quote, there was no intent to defraud period the end period. We understand Donald Trump tapped

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