Donald Trump, Trump Jr And Ivanka To Testify In New York AG Civil Probe Into Their Business

Former President Donald Trump, his son Donald Trump Jr and his daughter Ivanka Trump will soon testify in the New York attorney general’s civil investigation into their business.

The Associated Press reported that on Wednesday, a Manhattan judge signed off on an agreement that calls for the Trumps to give depositions starting July 15. According to court documents, the Trumps won’t testify on that date if the Court of Appeals, which is the state’s highest court, stays the judge’s order asking them to testify, reported NBC New York.

State Attorney General Letitia James’ office is expected to ask Trump about the statements, which she alleges were inflated by hundreds of millions of dollars. They were apparently signed off on by the former president. Those investigating the business are also preparing to ask Ivanka, a former executive at the company, and Trump Jr., its executive vice president, about the financial operations of the firm. Eric Trump, another of Trump's son, gave a deposition two years ago.

After a series of setbacks for Trump’s efforts to block James’ three-year-long investigation, the new agreement came. The investigation has uncovered evidence that Trump’s company exaggerated the value of assets like golf courses, skyscrapers and his Manhattan penthouse, James previously said. The exaggeration was done to reportedly get loans, insurance and tax breaks for land donations.

Last month, a lawyer for her office told a judge that evidence could support legal action against Trump, his company or both. But the attorney said that no decision had been made. The investigation, according to Trump, was part of a politically motivated “witch hunt” against him.

On May 26, a New York state appeals court ruled that the former President had to undergo a deposition. It upheld a lower court’s ruling that the attorney general had “the clear right” to question Trump and certain other principals in his company. The following day, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit that the former President had filed to seek a court order stopping James from probing him.

Meanwhile, James said that the businessperson-turned-politician had lobbed “baseless legal challenges” at her investigation. NPR reported that James' office started investigating Trump in 2019. It was launched after his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen told Congress that Trump had a history of misrepresenting the value of assets to gain favorable loan terms and tax benefits.