Former President Donald Trump and two of his children will need to answer questions under oath about the Trump Organization’s business practices in the state attorney general’s civil probe of the company, a New York judge ordered.
Lawyers for Trump, Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump demanded that they cancel the court summons from Attorney General Letitia James’ office, claiming that her investigation was politically motivated and designed to provide fuel for an ongoing criminal probe into the company by the Manhattan district attorney’s office.
State Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron gave the green light in his ruling for the three to be deposed within the next three weeks, while he also ordered the former president to hand over documents and information that had been subpoenaed within two weeks and presented Trump’s claims that they were selectively targeted as overblown, as reported.
“In the final analysis, a state attorney general commences investigating a business entity, uncovers copious evidence of possible financial fraud, and wants to question, under oath, several of the entities’ principals, including its namesake. She has the clear right to do so,” the judge wrote in his eight-page decision.
If Engoron let the depositions proceed, Trumps’ lawyers indicated that they would appeal. “There is a likelihood that we will appeal,” said the attorney for the Trump children, Alan Futerfas.
Trump said in a statement after the ruling, that James was trying to “interfere with my business relationships, and with the political process.”
“It is a continuation of the greatest Witch Hunt in history, and remember, I can’t get a fair hearing in New York because of the hatred of me by Judges and the judiciary. It is not possible!” said Trump.
On the other side James said “Today, justice prevailed,” while celebrating the ruling in a statement.
“No one will be permitted to stand in the way of the pursuit of justice, no matter how powerful they are. No one is above the law,” James added.