Donald Trump returns to civil fraud trial in New York

Donald Trump says his assets were undervalued (Seth Wenig/AP)

Former US president Donald Trump has returned to a New York City court to be a spectator at the civil fraud trial that threatens to disrupt his real estate empire, renewing his claims that the case is a baseless and politically targeted distraction from his 2024 campaign.

After attending the trial’s first three days earlier this month, the Republican front-runner initially planned a return to coincide with testimony by Michael Cohen, his lawyer turned foe.