On Wednesday, Ivanka Trump will be the fourth member of her family to provide evidence in a civil lawsuit filed by the New York attorney general, presenting her response to accusations of widespread deception at the Trump Organization.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Letitia James, the Attorney General, filed a lawsuit against former President Donald J. Accused Trump of inflating his net worth to obtain favorable loans from banks. Ms. Trump, whose testimony follows that of her father and adult brothers, is expected to be questioned about the valuation of the former president’s assets.
Ms. Trump was initially named as a defendant, like her father, brothers, and the Trump Organization itself, but an appeals court dismissed the case against her. She chose not to testify, but the court compelled her attendance.
Ms. Trump’s inaugural appearance in the trial puts the future of the family business, which she formerly managed, at risk. While she was seen as the successor to the family enterprise, Ms. Trump accompanied her father to the White House, where she became involved in his divisive presidency.
After her father’s loss in the 2020 election, Ms. Trump tried to distance herself from his company – as well as his increasing legal troubles, which now include four criminal charges. Ms. Trump also retained her own attorney, separate from the legal team representing her family, for Ms. James’s case, according to an informed source, a move that caused dissatisfaction among some in the former president’s circle.
The last time Ms. Trump testified about her father – before the congressional committee investigation into the January 6 assault on the Capitol – it turned out to be a significant embarrassment for the former president. During a primetime congressional hearing, Ms. Trump confessed that her father lost the 2020 election, leading her to criticize him for being “uninvolved” in the final days of his administration.
Although there had been tension in their relationship for some time, the two have somewhat reconciled and communicate regularly, according to the informed source.
In the New York case, she will not appear as a top executive of the Trump Organization, but rather as a former employee with extensive knowledge of the company’s practices, despite her deep personal connection to the case.
Ms. Trump played a pivotal role in establishing certain connections between the company and financial institutions – particularly Deutsche Bank – and is likely to be questioned about this, as well as her familiarity with the annual financial reports. The individuals at the center of this will also be subject to interrogation in the trial.
Here’s what else you need to know:
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Ms. Trump’s testimony comes two days after her father took the stand and delivered a scathing performance in which he denounced Ms. James, a Democrat, as a “politically motivated hack” and described the trial as “highly unfair.” He denied involvement in the deception but acknowledged playing a role in preparing the financial reports.
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Last week, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump testified, seeking to distance themselves from statements they claimed were primarily handled by accountants.
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Prior to the trial, Judge Arthur F. Engoron discovered the fraudulent nature of the financial reports, handing Ms. James a significant victory. The trial will determine the potential penalties Mr. Trump could face. The Attorney General has requested a $250 million fine and a permanent ban on conducting business in New York.
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Justice Engoron has prohibited Mr. Trump from commenting on his legal team. The former president violated this order twice, resulting in a $15,000 fine.
Source: www.nytimes.com
