(TheRedWire.com) – Ivanka Trump has been named a witness in a New York civil fraud case against her father, Donald Trump, and her brothers, Don Jr. and Eric. According to a noted attorney, this move usually points to some degree of collaboration.
The New York Attorney General, Letitia James, included Ivanka’s name as a witness in papers provided to the New York Superior Court. She is identified due to her previous association with the Trump Organization and her ownership of Ivanka OPO LLC, which holds financial ties to the Old Post Office building in Washington, D.C. Notably, she isn’t named a defendant.
Donald Trump, alongside his sons, are among the 28 individuals listed as defendants by the Attorney General. They are accused of inflating Trump’s net worth by as much as $2.2 billion to obtain better terms for loans and other transactions. All have refuted these claims. Trump, gaining traction in the polls for the 2024 GOP presidential candidacy, has previously labeled the case as politically biased.
The case saw a significant development when Justice Arthur Engoron ruled that Trump, his sons, and several associated businesses were accountable for fraud. This decision demanded the revocation of The Trump Organization’s license, hampering its New York operations. Trump countered this verdict, terming it as a politically-driven pursuit. It’s worth noting that Letitia James is affiliated with the Democratic party.
Legal expert Jamie White stated that including Ivanka as a witness typically implies some cooperation. Ivanka has held notable positions within the Trump Organization and was a senior adviser during Trump’s presidency. White opined that this isn’t a random move and, given that Ivanka was initially a defendant, this change might hint at some collaboration.
He further mentioned that prosecutors wouldn’t usually call a witness if they anticipated the person would invoke their Fifth Amendment rights. White speculated that Trump might have allowed his daughter to speak her truth, though no past evidence supports this hypothesis. White concluded that her testimony could provide valuable insights, especially concerning damages.
Despite efforts by Trump’s legal team to postpone the fraud trial, the appeals court has dismissed this request, setting the trial to commence as planned. Attorney General James is pushing for a $250 million verdict against Trump and the other accused parties.
Additionally, Trump faces various criminal charges at the state and federal levels, including misconduct allegations and attempts to influence the 2020 election results. He has consistently denied all these accusations and pleaded not guilty.
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