After months of fighting in court and Former President Trump’s multiple attempts to block the probe and the calls to testify, Trump’s two children Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump Jr. sat for depositions as part of the civil investigation into the business and finances of the Trump Organization the New York attorney general initiated.
Initially scheduled for July 15, the depositions were postponed by New York Attorney General Letitia James following the death of Trump’s first wife Ivana Trump, so Ivanka sat for her deposition on Wednesday while Trump Jr.’s – who runs the Trump Organization with his brother Eric – deposition took place last Thursday.
People familiar with the matter say Trump Jr did not assert the Fifth Amendment and answered the state’s questions. By doing so, he increases his possible legal exposure since he’s involved in several properties and, from 2017 forward, he certified the accuracy of the financial statements.
According to the new CNN report, Trump is expected to testify later this month. Claiming that the investigation is a politically motivated witch hunt, Trump has unsuccessfully fought James’s subpoenas and attempts by her office to obtain related documents since the start of the probe.
James’s office is investigating if Trump has intentionally inflated the property value of his Trump Organization before investors and deflated them subsequently to get tax and loan benefits.
Trump family members face two investigations, one civil and one criminal, into the accuracy of Trump Organization’s financial statements and these depositions raise the legal stakes for them.
Despite the denial of any wrongdoing by Trump and the Trump Organization, the office of New York AG said in January that it has found significant evidence that the Trump Organization has obtained loans, insurance, and tax benefits by using false or misleading asset valuations in its financial statements.
Be the first to comment