Donald Trump Jr. is taking the stand to testify in the non-jury civil trial stemming from New York Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit against the Trump family and Trump Organization.
The former president’s eldest son, who is listed as a defendant in James’ lawsuit, took the stand Wednesday afternoon in a Manhattan courthouse.
Eric Trump is expected to testify next in the trial.
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Ivanka Trump was dismissed as a defendant from the case over the summer after a decision by a New York Appeals Court, but she was set to appear for testimony Friday. Her attorneys on Wednesday, though, filed a notice of appeal to the decision requiring her to testify at her father’s civil fraud trial.
Former President Trump, Don Jr., and Eric Trump are all still listed as defendants.
The trial comes after James, a Democrat, brought a lawsuit against Trump last year alleging he and his company misled banks and others about the value of his assets. James claimed Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric, as well as his associates and businesses, committed “numerous acts of fraud and misrepresentation” on their financial statements.
The appellate ruling from over the summer, which limited dismissed Ivanka Trump as a defendant, also prevented James from suing for alleged transactions that occurred before July 13, 2014, or Feb. 6, 2016, depending on the defendant.
Trump has blasted James for bringing the lawsuit; for the trial not having a jury; and Judge Arthur Engoron, presiding over the trial, calling him “corrupt.”
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“The Attorney General filed this case under a consumer protection statute that denies the right to a jury,” a Trump spokesperson said. “There was never an option to choose a jury trial. It is unfortunate that a jury won’t be able to hear how absurd the merits of this case are and conclude no wrongdoing ever happened.”
Engoron, last month, ruled that Trump and the Trump Organization committed fraud while building his real estate empire by deceiving banks, insurers and others by overvaluing his assets and exaggerating his net worth on paperwork used in making deals and securing financing.
Engoron’s ruling came after James sued Trump, his children and the Trump Organization, alleging that the former president “inflated his net worth by billions of dollars,” and said his children helped him to do so.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Fox News’ Maria Paronich contributed to this report.
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