hearings in court
Judge: Trump and his children must testify under oath
Donald Trump is to answer questions under oath. Photo: Patrick Semansky/AP/dpa
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A judge ruled that Trump must answer questions under oath over possible fraudulent business practices by his companies. The ex-president still has an option to avoid making a statement.
Former US President Donald Trump and two of his children have to answer questions under oath in a lawsuit over potentially fraudulent business practices.
A judge in New York ruled that the 75-year-old Republican, his son Donald Jr and daughter Ivanka Trump must face an interrogation within 21 days. Lawyers for the Trump family had tried to prevent this, arguing that Attorney General Letitia James, who is a member of the Democratic Party, was biased towards the former White House chief.
According to media reports, Trump can appeal the decision and refuse to testify if he would otherwise incriminate himself. His son Eric, who was already required to testify under oath in the matter, exercised that right during questioning.
Trump’s corporate empire is the subject of investigations into a civil complaint filed by Attorney General James and a criminal investigation by the New York City Attorney’s Office. This accuses the group of fraudulent business practices. The goal of these practices was to get a “variety of economic benefits,” such as insurance coverage or tax deductions, James explained.
According to James, Trump and the Trump Organization used fraudulent and misleading financial reporting to gain economic advantage. It is also about the suspicion that Trump’s company has given false information about the value of real estate. Donald Trump is the founder of the Trump Organization, his two sons Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump are the vice presidents of the company conglomerate, which is primarily active in the real estate sector.