Trump, Ivanka, Trump Jr Ordered To Sit For Depositions In Civil Fraud Investigation

Former U.S. President Donald Trump and his two adult children, Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump Jr., were ordered by an appeals court to sit for depositions in a New York investigation of their company -- the Trump Organization.

On Thursday, New York's Appellate Division, First Judicial Department rejected Trump's argument that he be excused from testifying because his answers could be used in a parallel criminal investigation, reported Yahoo! In the appellate division of the state’s trial court, a four-judge panel upheld Judge Arthur Engoron's Feb. 17 ruling. It enforced subpoenas requiring that Trump, Ivanka and Trump Jr. give deposition testimony in Attorney General Letitia James’ investigation. The appellate panel wrote that the existence of a criminal probe does not preclude "civil discovery of related facts, at which a party may exercise the privilege against self-incrimination," reported CBS News.

Lawyer Ron Fischetti, who is representing Trump, said that they will "probably" appeal the decision to the Court of Appeals, which is New York's highest court. Fischetti said that he disagrees "with their ruling."

Trump and his two adult children were challenging subpoenas sent last December. It was seeking "testimony and documents in connection with an investigation into the valuation of properties owned or controlled by Trump or the Trump Organization, or any matter which the Attorney General deems pertinent."

The new ruling was praised by New York Attorney General Letitia James, and she said that once again, the courts have ruled that Trump "must comply with our lawful investigation into his financial dealings."

The former President and his lawyers have repeatedly accused the New York Attorney General of pursuing the investigation against him as a political ploy. The accusation is at the heart of a lawsuit filed by him last December. He previously called himself an "aggrieved and innocent party." He also called James' investigation "a hoax."

James' office began its probe appropriately after March 2019 congressional testimony by former Trump Organization lawyer Michael Cohen, the appellate panel wrote Thursday. The testimony raised questions about potentially "fraudulent financial statements."

While Trump Jr. currently operates the Trump family business with his brother Eric Trump, Ivanka is a former top executive in the Trump Organization, according to CNBC.