New York Judge Denies Motion to Exclude Ivanka Trump from Testifying in Civil Fraud Trial
New York, CNN – In a recent development in the civil fraud trial against former President Donald Trump, a New York judge has denied a motion to prevent Ivanka Trump from testifying. Ivanka Trump’s attorneys had filed a motion to quash a subpoena for her testimony, arguing that she should not be forced to appear since an appellate court had removed her as a defendant in the case.
However, Judge Arthur Engoron denied the motion after hearing arguments on the matter. He stated that her testimony should not be scheduled before Wednesday to give her time to appeal his ruling. Engoron emphasized that Ivanka Trump had “availed herself of the privilege of doing business in New York,” indicating that she should be compelled to testify.
The judge also mentioned that Ivanka Trump should have submitted an affidavit asserting that she does not live or work in the state presently. He stated that it was too late to do so now and that only she could provide the necessary information. Engoron further denied a request from Donald Trump’s attorney to entertain a deposition of Ivanka Trump taken in Florida, stating that he prefers to hear testimony live in court.
Attorneys for Donald and Ivanka Trump argued that Ivanka Trump has not lived or worked in New York since 2017, so the court does not have jurisdiction over her. They accused New York Attorney General Letitia James of seeking Ivanka’s testimony solely to create a media spectacle. Trump’s attorney, Chris Kise, called the subpoena “continued harassment of President Trump’s children” and claimed that they just wanted another opportunity for a circus-like courtroom scene.
In the $250 million lawsuit filed last September by James, Ivanka Trump had initially been listed as a co-defendant along with Donald Trump, Eric Trump, Donald Trump Jr., and several Trump Organization executives. However, in June, a New York appeals court dismissed Ivanka Trump as a co-defendant, finding that the claims against her were too old. Ivanka Trump was still identified as a potential witness by the attorney general’s office.
The case alleges that Donald Trump and his eldest children were involved in a fraud scheme spanning over a decade, which they used to enrich themselves. The New York attorney general’s office claimed that Ivanka Trump, in her role in the Trump Organization, had personal knowledge of a loan issued by Deutsche Bank for the Old Post Office project in Washington, DC. The attorney general’s complaint stated that Ivanka Trump was liable for the fraud committed on that loan.
The recent decision by Judge Engoron has brought Ivanka Trump back into the spotlight of the civil fraud trial against her father. As the case continues to unfold, the public awaits further developments and the potential impact on the Trump family and their business empire.
[This article has been updated with additional developments.]