In a significant development in the $250 million civil trial against former President Donald Trump and his company, a New York judge has ordered Ivanka Trump, the former president’s daughter, to testify in the case. Judge Arthur Engoron ruled on Friday, setting a deadline for her testimony and allowing time for her to appeal if she wishes.
Trump’s attorneys had challenged the subpoena issued by New York Attorney General Letitia James, arguing that an appeals court had previously ruled in favor of dropping Ivanka Trump as a defendant in the case due to statute of limitations issues. They accused the attorney general’s office of attempting to prolong the legal proceedings and burdening the former president’s daughter unnecessarily.
Additionally, Trump’s legal team contended that the attorney general’s office had waited too long to subpoena Ivanka Trump and claimed that she no longer resides in the state of New York, questioning the office’s jurisdiction over her.
The attorney general’s office, on the other hand, insisted that Ivanka Trump, a former White House official, possesses crucial information relevant to their case. They argued that she remains financially and professionally connected to the Trump Organization and other defendants, making her a valuable witness in the ongoing proceedings.
“While no longer a Defendant in this action, she indisputably has personal knowledge of facts relevant to the claims against the remaining individual and entity Defendants,” the AG’s office stated in a court filing. They further asserted that Ivanka Trump’s ties to the Trump Organization persist, including her financial interests, making her a person under their control.
The attorney general’s office expressed a desire to question Ivanka Trump about the Trump Organization’s former Washington, D.C. hotel and highlighted her financial gains from its sale.
“Ms. Trump remains under the control of the Trump Organization, including through her ongoing and substantial business ties to the organization,” the AG’s office argued, emphasizing that her involvement with the family business was evident in various transactions, such as property ownership, insurance, staff management, and legal fees. They noted that it was only her unwillingness to answer for this involvement that raised objections.
Ivanka Trump’s siblings, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, as well as their father, former President Donald Trump, are all expected to testify in the case and have been listed as witnesses by both the attorney general and the defense.
The lawsuit, brought forth by the attorney general, alleges that Donald Trump inflated his assets in financial statements to secure more favorable loans and insurance policies. The former president has consistently denied any wrongdoing, often referring to the case as a “witch hunt.”
As the legal battle unfolds, Ivanka Trump’s testimony will likely provide additional insights into the ongoing investigation, shedding light on the complex financial matters at the heart of this high-profile case.