Ivanka Trump Summoned To Witness Stand In Dad's Civil Fraud Trial

Ivanka Trump, former President Donald Trump's daughter, has been ordered to provide testimony in the ongoing civil fraud trial against her father in New York.

What Happened: Despite her earlier dismissal from the lawsuit, New York Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron ruled that Ivanka is still required to testify if subpoenaed by the attorney general's office.

The date for her testimony has been set post-Nov. 1, allowing her legal team ample time to challenge the decision, according to The Hill.

Lawyers for Ivanka have contended the New York attorney general's office lacks the authority to mandate her testimony, given her non-involvement in the case and non-residency in New York. 

"Ms. Trump is not a party in this action. Nor is Ms. Trump a New York resident. It is black-letter law that, given those two facts, Ms. Trump is beyond the jurisdiction of this court," they wrote.

Engoron dismissed these claims, highlighting her business engagements in New York, The Hill reported.

Also Read: Trump Gets Fined $10,000, Takes Stand, Storms Out Of Courtroom: 'He Will Ultimately Be Held Accountable,' Says Michael Cohen

Why It Matters: The extensive fraud lawsuit, initiated by New York Attorney General Letitia James, alleges that the Trump Organization, along with the former president, his adult sons and several top executives, manipulated the valuation of their assets over the years.

This manipulation, the lawsuit claims, was done to benefit from reduced tax rates and favorable insurance terms.

The Trump family and the organization have refuted these allegations, labeling the lawsuit as a politically motivated "witch hunt." 

Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, the former president's sons, are also slated to testify in the trial, according to The Hill. Notably, the former president himself appeared in court recently to address remarks he made to the media, which the judge deemed a breach of a pre-existing gag order.

The trial, in its fourth week, is anticipated to continue until at least Dec. 22.

Now Read: Trump On Trial In New York Fraud Case: Why There's No Jury, Mar-A-Lago's $1B Valuation And More

This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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