Donald Trump Jr. takes the stand to testify within the non-jury civil trial stemming from New York Legal professional Normal Letitia James’ lawsuit in opposition to the Trump household and the Trump Group.
The previous president’s eldest son, who’s listed as a defendant in James’ lawsuit, took the stand Wednesday afternoon in a Manhattan court docket.
Eric Trump is anticipated to testify subsequent on the trial.
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Ivanka Trump was dismissed as a defendant from the case over the summer season after a call by the New York Courtroom of Appeals, however was scheduled to seem to testify on Friday. Nevertheless, on Wednesday, her attorneys filed a discover of enchantment requiring her to testify in her father’s civil trial for fraud.
Donald Trump Jr. speaks to viewers members earlier than introducing U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) throughout a marketing campaign rally at Illuminating Applied sciences on October 13, 2022 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Photos)
Former President Trump, Don Jr. and Eric Trump are nonetheless listed as defendants.
The trial comes after James, a Democrat, sued Trump final 12 months alleging that he and his firm misled banks and others concerning the worth of his belongings. James alleged that Donald Jr., Ivanka and Eric, in addition to his companions and corporations, dedicated “quite a few acts of fraud and misrepresentation” of their monetary statements.
An appellate ruling issued over the summer season, which restricted Ivanka Trump’s dismissal as a defendant, additionally barred James from submitting a lawsuit over the alleged transactions that occurred earlier than July 13, 2014, or February 6, 2016, relying on the defendant.
Eric Trump arrives on the New York Supreme Courtroom on Monday, October 2, 2023 in New York. (AP Photograph/Seth Wing)
Trump criticized James for submitting the lawsuit. As a result of there was no jury for the trial; Choose Arthur Engoron, who presided over the trial, described him as “corrupt”.
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“The Legal professional Normal introduced this case underneath a shopper safety legislation that denies the proper to a jury,” a Trump spokesman mentioned. “There was by no means an choice to decide on a jury trial. It’s unlucky {that a} jury won’t be able to listen to how absurd the deserves of this case are and conclude that completely no wrongdoing occurred.”
President Donald Trump and his daughter, senior advisor Ivanka Trump, make their means aboard Air Drive One earlier than departure from Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Georgia, on January 4, 2021. (Mandel Ngan/AFP by way of Getty Photos)
Engoron dominated final month that Trump and the Trump Group dedicated fraud whereas constructing his actual property empire by deceiving banks, insurance coverage firms and others by overstating his belongings and exaggerating his internet price on paper used to make offers and safe financing.
Engoron’s ruling got here after James filed a lawsuit in opposition to Trump, his youngsters and the Trump Group, alleging that the previous president “inflated his internet price by billions of {dollars}” and saying his youngsters helped him accomplish that.
This can be a growing story. . Please examine again for updates
Fox Information’ Maria Baronich contributed to this report.