Ivanka Trump Ordered to Testify in Father’s Civil Fraud Trial
New York Judge Rules Against Her Attorneys’ Motion to Quash Subpoena
President Donald Trump’s daughter and senior adviser, Ivanka Trump, has been ordered by a New York judge to testify in her father’s civil fraud trial. The judge, Arthur Engoron, denied a motion from Ivanka Trump’s attorneys to dismiss the subpoena for her testimony. However, the judge did grant her time to appeal the ruling and stated that her testimony should not be scheduled before Wednesday.
Ivanka Trump’s attorney had argued that she should not be forced to appear in the case, as she was no longer a defendant after being removed by an appellate court. However, Judge Engoron stated that she had conducted business in New York and should therefore testify.
The judge also mentioned that Ivanka Trump could have provided an affidavit asserting that she does not currently reside or work in the state, but it was too late to do so now.
Following the ruling, the judge quickly denied a request from Donald Trump’s attorney to depose Ivanka Trump remotely in Florida, stating that he preferred to hear her testimony live in court.
The attorney general’s office is expected to call Donald Trump’s children, including Ivanka Trump, to testify next week, with Donald Trump possibly testifying the following week. The attorney general’s team outlined their case in court and confirmed that they may call additional witnesses during a rebuttal case after the defense presents their case.
Attorneys for Donald and Ivanka Trump argued that she had not lived or worked in New York since 2017 and therefore the court did not have jurisdiction over her. They accused the New York Attorney General of seeking her testimony for media attention.
Ivanka Trump was initially listed as a co-defendant in the lawsuit filed by the attorney general, alleging that she and her family were involved in a fraud scheme to enrich themselves. However, she was dismissed as a co-defendant by a New York appeals court.
The attorney general’s office maintains that Ivanka Trump is still connected to the Trump Organization and has knowledge relevant to the case.
Updates on this story and headline are expected as the trial progresses.
