Ivanka Trump APPEALS order to take the stand in her father’s $250million fraud trial: Attorneys file motion to quash her testimony because she isn’t a defendant – and hasn’t worked in New York since 2017
- Testimony would be in NY AG Letitia James’ lawsuit against Donald Trump, sons Don Jr. and Eric, the Trump Organization
- She was scheduled to testify on November 8
- Her attorney filed a petition and notified the court that they have filed an appeal
Ivanka Trump is appealing a judge’s order to enforce a subpoena for her testimony in her father’s civil fraud case in New York.
The former first daughter’s attorney filed a motion Wednesday to notify the court of the intent to appeal, arguing that she is not a defendant and has not worked in New York City since 2017. Ivanka Trump was scheduled to testify on November 8.
Her father and her brothers also appear in court. Don Jr. emerged Wednesday, becoming the first family member to take a stand and defend themselves against accusations that the Trump Organization had inflated their wealth and assets for decades.
“I should have worn makeup!” the 45-year-old joked as photographers snapped pictures of him sitting on the couch with his lawyers.
Former President Donald Trump did not appear in court Wednesday, but addressed Judge Arthur Engoron in an online post that read: “Leave my children alone, Engoron. You are a disgrace to the legal profession!’
Ivanka Trump is appealing an order forcing her to testify in her father’s civil case – pictured above entering the Four Seasons hotel in Surfside, Florida.
Don Jr.’s performance marks the start of a blockbuster week in the trial, in which the judge has already ruled that Trump and his real estate company committed fraud.
Eric Trump, who heads the Trump Organization, will follow Don Jr. witnesses, followed on Monday by Trump himself.
Ivanka is scheduled to testify next Wednesday, but her lawyers have argued that she should not testify. They noted that she left her job at the Trump Organization in 2017 when she went to work for Donald Trump in the White House, and never returned. to the family business.
They also argued that she had moved from New York and now lives in Florida.
But Judge Arthur Engoron sided with the state last week, 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 at the time that her testimony would not take place before November 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.
Donald Trump Jr. sits in a New York courtroom as attorney Alina Habba listens
New York attorney general’s office staffer carries evidence box as he arrives for Trump Organization civil fraud trial
She was dismissed as a defendant from the case in June after an appeals court ruled that the 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.