Judge shuts down key witness as he argued about Mar-a-Lago value in Trump fraud trial

Judge Arthur Engoron Tuesday shut down an expert defense witness in Donald Trump’s fraud trial who tried to testify that Mar-a-Lago was worth as much as the former president said it was, according to reports.

Defense witness John Shubin attempted to argue the Florida property — a cornerstone in New York Attorney General Letitia James’ $250 million fraud case — was not restricted for use only as a social club, ABC News reports.

Shubin reportedly argued the property could be developed, which would increase its value, because there was “no prohibition on the use of Mar-a-Lago as a single-family residence.”

But state attorney Kevin Wallace leapt in to object to testimony that called for a legal conclusion, which Engoron sustained, ABC News reports.

"It absolutely is a legal conclusion," Engoron reportedly said.

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Trump’s attorney Clifford Robert was forced to rephrase his question and take Shubin’s testimony on a “document-by-document basis,” reports Law360’s Stewart Bishop.

Shubin’s testimony contradicts the Attorney General’s contention that Trump surrendered the right to develop Mar-a-Lago when he signed the 2002 deed, notes the Messenger reporter Adam Klasfeld.

“Such rights have not already been transferred through the Deed of Conservation and Preservation Easement, any and all rights to develop the property for any usage other than club usage,” the deed states.