Ivanka Trump Ordered to Testify in $250M Fraud Trial, NY Appeals Court Rules
Former-President Donald Trump’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, has been denied her request to avoid testifying in a $250 million fraud trial involving her family and their business empire. The New York appeals court ruled against Ivanka, stating that she must appear in Manhattan Supreme Court as previously ordered.
Ivanka argued that she would suffer undue hardship if she were forced to testify in the middle of a school week. However, the court dismissed her claims, and she is now required to testify on Wednesday. This comes after her two adult brothers, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, testified earlier this week in the case.
New York Attorney General Letitia James has accused the Trumps of engaging in a decade-long scheme to inflate their net worth, thereby obtaining financial benefits such as tax advantages and better loan terms. James seeks approximately $250 million in damages and aims to prohibit the defendants from running any further business in New York.
Notably, Ivanka was dismissed as a party in the case earlier this year due to the claims against her falling outside the statute of limitations. However, her father and brothers remain co-defendants. The recent ruling by the appeals court means that Ivanka must now join them in court.
In response to the ruling, Ivanka’s attorney, Bennett Moskowitz, argued for a temporary stay pending their challenge of Judge Arthur Engoron‘s order. Moskowitz claimed that the subpoenas for her testimony were improperly served, that Engoron had made an erroneous ruling, and that the court lacked jurisdiction over Ivanka since she is not a defendant and does not reside in New York.
The decision by the First Judicial Department of the New York Supreme Court’s Appellate Division denying Ivanka’s bid not to testify was issued in a concise one-sentence ruling. It came just hours after her attorney presented their arguments.
As the trial progresses, various financial statements are being examined, with both Trump brothers attempting to distance themselves from these documents. They aim to counter the allegations brought forth by Attorney General Letitia James. Her civil fraud case accuses the Trumps and the Trump Organization of engaging in a deceptive scheme to inflate their net worth.
The trial continues to attract significant attention and scrutiny. While Ivanka had hoped to avoid testifying, the appeals court ruling now compels her to take the stand alongside her family members. The case signifies another legal battle surrounding the controversial Trump family and their business practices.
