Socialite Ivanka Trump has been ordered to testify against her father, former U.S. President Donald Trump, in the ongoing $250 million civil fraud trial. The trial, which commenced on October 2, 2023, in Manhattan, implicates Donald Trump, his eldest sons, and several Trump Organization executives.
Despite Ivanka Trump’s relocation to Florida and her lawyers’ efforts to prevent her testimony, Judge Arthur Engoron ruled that she is still linked to her father’s businesses in New York. The judge’s decision came after Ivanka’s attorneys argued that she had left her position at the Trump Organization in 2017 to work for her father in the White House and had not returned to the family business since.
The lawsuit, filed by General Letitia James, the New York Attorney General, alleges that Donald Trump exaggerated his wealth for years on financial statements provided to banks and insurers to secure loans and deals. The suit seeks penalties amounting to $250 million and a potential ban on Trump’s license to conduct business in New York.
Ivanka Trump, a former executive at the Trump Organization, was initially dismissed as a defendant in June following an appeal court ruling stating that the claims against her were outside the statute of limitations. However, the New York Attorney General issued subpoenas to corporate companies associated with Ivanka, aiming to bring her back to the witness stand. Ivanka’s legal team contested the subpoenas, arguing that she was improperly served.
The courtroom drama intensified when Donald Trump, during a hearing on October 25, stormed out after a heated exchange with Judge Engoron. This incident occurred shortly after Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer, was questioned about instructions given to him regarding falsifying financial information. Cohen’s response, claiming he did not “recall,” led to tensions in the courtroom.
During the trial, Trump’s attorney, Cliff Robert, requested a directed verdict, arguing that the main witnesses testified that Trump did not issue such instructions. Judge Engoron denied this request, leading to Trump’s abrupt exit. Outside the courtroom, Trump accused the judge of being partisan and demanded an end to the trial. Subsequently, Trump was fined $10,000 for violating a gag order imposed by the court.
Despite these dramatic events, Ivanka Trump is now slated to testify against her father after November 1, giving her legal team time to appeal the order. The trial continues to capture public attention, unfolding as a high-stakes legal battle with significant implications for the Trump family and their business empire.
