Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of former President Donald Trump, is set to testify in a civil fraud trial against the Trump family and their business. The $250 million lawsuit, brought by the New York attorney general’s office, accuses the former president, his company, and several executives, including Trump Jr., of participating in a scheme to inflate their father’s net worth for financial benefits.
According to the lawsuit, Trump Jr. and his brother Eric knowingly participated in the scheme to obtain better loan and insurance policy terms. The complaint states that as executive vice presidents of the Trump Organization, the brothers were intimately involved in the operation of the business.
In a deposition taken last year, Trump Jr. distanced himself from the fraudulent financial statements, stating that he had no real involvement in their preparation and did not recall ever working on them. He added that while people may have asked him about certain aspects, he did not have specific knowledge about the financial statement.
Despite his claims, Trump Jr. became a trustee of his father’s revocable trust when he took office and certified the statements of financial condition in 2017, 2018, and 2019. He relied on the accounting and legal departments at the Trump Organization when signing the paperwork.
Eric Trump, whose name has also been invoked in relation to property valuations, is expected to testify later this week. Ivanka Trump, who was originally named in the lawsuit but had the claims against her dismissed, is tentatively set to appear in court next week.
The lawsuit is a significant legal battle for the Trump family and their business. The outcome of the trial will determine the potential financial consequences for the defendants and could have broader implications for their reputations.