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Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a break in his civil business fraud trial at New York Supreme Court in New York, October 25, 2023. /CFP
Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a break in his civil business fraud trial at New York Supreme Court in New York, October 25, 2023. /CFP
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is set to testify November 6 at his New York civil fraud trial, following his three eldest children to the witness stand in a case that threatens to disrupt their family’s real estate empire, state lawyers said Friday.
It was already expected that the former president and sons Donald Jr. and Eric would testify. The timing became clear Friday, after Judge Arthur Engoron ruled that the daughter Ivanka Trump also must appear, rejecting her bid to avoid testifying.
The schedule sets up a blockbuster stretch in the trial of New York Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit. She alleges that the former president, now the Republican front-runner for 2024, overstated his wealth for years on financial statements that were given to banks, insurers and others to help secure loans and deals.
Trump denies any wrongdoing and has called the trial a politically motivated sham. The case could strip Trump of some of his corporate holdings and marquee properties such as Trump Tower. James and Engoron are Democrats.
Donald Trump and the two sons are defendants in the lawsuit, but the state is initially calling them to the stand before the defense begins its case. The defense can then call them again.
Donald Trump ended up briefly testifying Wednesday to answer Engoron’s questions about whether an out-of-court comment was aimed at his law clerk. The judge had earlier barred participants in the trial from talking publicly about court staffers.
Trump said his remark wasn’t about the clerk; Engoron called that testimony “not credible” and fined Trump $10,000, on top of a $5,000 fine imposed days earlier over an online post about the clerk. Trump’s lawyers paid both fines on his behalf but still might appeal them, according to a court filing Friday.
Donald Trump Jr. is now set to testify next Wednesday, brother Eric on Thursday and sister Ivanka on November 3, though her lawyers may appeal to try to block her testimony.
(With input from AP)
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