Ivanka Trump’s Testimony in Father’s Civil Fraud Case Under Consideration: Judge to Conduct Hearing on Friday

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Subsequent to former President Donald Trump’s brief appearance on the witness stand, focus is now shifting towards the question of whether his daughter, Ivanka Trump, will also be required to testify in his ongoing New York civil fraud trial.

A court hearing scheduled for this Friday will deliberate on this matter. Although Ivanka Trump has been excused from the case, legal representatives for both her family and their business argue that she should not be obligated to testify. On the other hand, attorneys for the State of New York insist that her testimony is pertinent, emphasizing that she has material information by virtue of her former role as Executive Vice President of the Trump Organization.

The time frame within which Judge Arthur Engoron will make his decision remains uncertain, as does the schedule for Ivanka Trump’s testimony, should the judge mandate it.

New York Attorney General Letitia James has initiated the civil lawsuit against the former president, his sons Donald Jr. and Eric, and their business organization, alleging the intentional exaggeration of Donald Trump’s financial assets over several years. These exaggerated financial statements were purportedly provided to banks, insurers, and other institutions to facilitate loans and contractual agreements.

The Trump family and their business enterprise have categorically denied these allegations. The former president, who is currently a leading contender for the Republican nomination in the 2024 presidential race, has labeled the trial as a politically biased “sham,” pointing out that James is affiliated with the Democratic Party.

Although Donald Trump and his sons are expected to testify eventually, the former president did make an unplanned appearance on the witness stand earlier this week, responding to Judge Engoron’s queries about a statement made outside the courtroom.

Legal counsel for Ivanka Trump, Bennet Moskowitz, has argued that requiring her to testify would be unreasonable. He notes that she is neither a current defendant in the case nor a resident of New York. Furthermore, he accuses the New York Attorney General’s office of endeavoring “to impose an undue, unnecessary, and inappropriate burden on Ms. Trump to compensate for perceived shortcomings” in their case.

Donald Trump’s legal team, in a separate legal submission, accuses the state of attempting “to gratuitously drag Ms. Trump into a highly publicized trial with the transparent objective of harassing both her and her father.”

A state appeals court had previously dismissed claims against Ivanka Trump in June, deeming them as outdated. In January of 2017, preceding her father’s inauguration, she announced her departure from her role at the Trump Organization, subsequently taking on an unpaid advisory position in the Trump administration.

Nonetheless, state attorneys persist in their stance that Ivanka Trump “played a significant role” in several incidents that are central to the case, adding that she “continues to have financial and professional associations” with her family’s business operations.

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Contributions to this report were made by Big Big News correspondent Michael R. Sisak.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Ivanka Trump Testimony

More about Ivanka Trump Testimony

• New York Attorney General’s Official Website
• Overview of Civil Fraud
• Ivanka Trump’s Career Timeline
• Donald Trump’s Civil Fraud Case: Background and Updates
• The Role of Witnesses in Civil Trials
• Trump Organization: Company Profile
• Letitia James: Biography and Career
• U.S. Court System Overview
• The Trump Family and Their Business Ventures
• Judge Arthur Engoron: Professional Background