Ivanka Trump appeared in court on November 8, 2023, testifying in a civil fraud case that poses a threat to her father's business empire. The case centers around allegations of fraud, including
inflating assets to secure favorable loans, which have already led to judgments against her father, Donald Trump, and her two adult brothers, Eric and Donald Jr.
Initially named as a co-defendant, Ivanka Trump, age 42, successfully appealed her inclusion in the case earlier this year. She had fought against testifying, arguing that she could not leave her children in Florida during a school week. However, both a New York judge and an appeals court ruled that she must provide testimony as a witness.
This non-jury trial is focused on allegations of falsifying business records, insurance fraud, and conspiracy, with the judge tasked with making the final determination. The case could have significant consequences, potentially leading to the loss of valuable assets like Trump Tower for former President Donald Trump.
The New York Attorney General, Letitia James, who initiated the lawsuit, is seeking $250 million in fines and extensive restrictions on how the Trump business operates within the state.
During her testimony in New York Supreme Court, Ivanka Trump maintained a composed demeanor. She provided succinct responses, consistently asserting that she could not recall specific details or was not aware of certain aspects related to the case. Like her brothers in their testimonies the previous week, she distanced herself from documents central to the case, particularly her father's financial statements, which are alleged to have contained inflated asset values used to secure better loan deals.
When confronted with a series of emails intended to strengthen the state attorney general's case, Ivanka Trump repeatedly expressed a lack of recognition of the messages. State attorneys inquired about her involvement in securing loans from Deutsche Bank for properties such as Trump National Doral Miami, the Old Post Office in Washington DC, and Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago.
At one point, an email she had written to the then-Trump Organization chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, regarding a loan was presented. Ivanka Trump stated she did not remember the message.
The state lawyer, Louis Solomon, expressed frustration with her responses, highlighting inconsistencies in her testimony. Trump attorney Christopher Kise later objected, claiming that Ivanka Trump had been summoned from Florida to discuss matters that were beyond the statute of limitations.
The trial, which is expected to conclude in mid-December, has featured a combative atmosphere, with former President Donald Trump also taking the stand and making claims of a politically motivated trial. Ivanka Trump's testimony is viewed as a significant moment in the case, with observers noting that her responses did not seem to provide significant damaging information against her father.
The New York Attorney General, Letitia James, asserted outside the courthouse that Ivanka Trump had been actively involved in the family enterprise from 2011 to 2017, holding a key role in real estate deals and loans central to the case. State attorneys argue that Mr. Trump's annual financial statements played a critical role in securing low-interest loans, ultimately saving him over $100 million.
Ivanka Trump had previously served as a top executive at the Trump Organization alongside her brothers, Donald Jr. and Eric. However, she shifted her focus to working as an adviser to her father in the White House, leaving the family company in her brothers' hands in 2017.
Her testimony follows her father's appearance in court, where he faced questioning for over four hours, acknowledging inaccuracies in valuations but claiming they were irrelevant to the financial institutions that relied on them for pricing deals.
The trial is expected to continue, with the four Trump family members as the final witnesses called by the prosecution. Photo by U.S. Department of State from United States, Wikimedia commons.