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Ivanka Trump will have to testify in the civil fraud case against her father, her brothers and the family business, a New York judge decided in a surprise ruling on Friday. After Ivanka Trump was dismissed from the case, her lawyers argued that she did not have to testify, noting that she had moved from New York — she now lives in Florida — and left her job at the Trump Organization in 2017. She went to work for Donald. Trump in the White House and never returned to the family business.
Ivanka’s lawyers had filed a motion to quash a subpoena for her testimony in New York Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit against the former president’s sons Don Jr. and Eric, the Trump Organization and some executives. But Judge Arthur Engoron sided with the state, pointing to documents showing that Ivanka Trump has ownership or management ties to some New York companies and still owns apartments in Manhattan. ‘Mrs. Trump has clearly taken advantage of the privilege of doing business in New York,” Engoron said.
He said her testimony would not take place before Nov. 1 to give her lawyers time to appeal. The lawsuit accuses Donald Trump of overestimating his wealth for years based on financial statements provided to banks, insurers and others to secure loans and deals. James is demanding a $250 million fine and a ban on Trump doing business in New York. The former president has denied the allegations.
Ivanka was a former Trump Organization executive who was accused of fraudulently inflating the value of assets in financial statements provided to lenders, insurers and others. She was dismissed as a defendant from the case in June after an appeals court ruled that claims against her fell outside the statute of limitations. Ivanka Trump’s attorney told the judge Friday that state attorneys had no legal basis for calling her to testify. “Your Honor, at the end of the day, they simply have no jurisdiction over her,” said the attorney, Bennet Moskowitz.
Judge Engoron also denied a request for Ivanka to make a deposition in Florida instead of testifying in New York. Donald Trump’s attorney Chris Kise called the subpoena “continued harassment of President Trump’s children.”
“They just want to take another shot at one of President Trump’s children for free,” Kise said. “They want her in the courtroom so it can be filled with media and we can have another circus day.” Donald Trump and his sons are expected to eventually take the stand.
The former president briefly testified Wednesday to answer Engoron’s questions about an out-of-court comment. Engoron upheld its ruling of a $10,000 fine on Donald Trump for violating a court silence order.
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