Donald Trump.Photo: James Devaney/GC Images
A New York judge on Thursday ruled that former PresidentDonald Trumpand two of his adult children —Donald Trump Jr.andIvanka Trump—must appear for sworn testimonywithin 21 days as the state’s attorney general continues an investigation into the family’s business dealings.
The former president is further required to “produce additional documentation within 14 days,“according to the order.
Ivanka Trump (left), Donald Trump Jr.Samuel Corum/Getty (2)
The ruling is a victory for James, whose office recently announced it had filed paperwork to request a judge to force the former president, Don Jr. and Ivanka to testify as part of her investigation.
James has been investigating whether the Trump Organization misstated the value of its assets on annual financial statements, tax submissions and other documents in order to secure loans and insurance coverage and obtain other economic and tax benefits.
The family has said the probe is baseless and the former president’s adult childrenpreviously asked a judge to quashwhat they called an “unprecedented and unconstitutional” bid for their testimony after being subpoenaed in December.
President Trump’s middle son,Eric Trump, who serves as an executive vice president at Trump Organization, was subpoenaed earlier and testified in 2020.
“Each of the individuals was directly involved in one or more transactions under review,” the attorney general’s office said.
James said in an earlier statement that the company has been using “delay tactics” in an attempt to “thwart” her investigation.
“Thus far in our investigation, we have uncovered significant evidence that suggests Donald J. Trump and the Trump Organization falsely and fraudulently valued multiple assets and misrepresented those values to financial institutions for economic benefit,” she said.
Attorneys for the Trumps, meanwhile, have argued that James has used her mounting investigation into the family as a way to “garner votes, money and support, and now, as Attorney General, to gain political support.”
In a statement sent to PEOPLE earlier, James said those are the same “baseless” argument the Trumps and their attorneys have made previously.
source: people.com
