Status: 03.01.2022 8:23 p.m.
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In the course of the investigation against the “Trump Organization”, the New York attorney general has summoned further high-profile witnesses: In addition to the ex-president himself, daughter Ivanka and son Donald Jr.
Donald Trump himself, his daughter Ivanka and his son Donald Jr. are due to testify and produce documents in the Manhattan court. The announced the office of Attorney General Letitia James. The investigation is about whether the family holding company has provided false information to banks and the tax authorities in order to gain advantages.
The Trump Organization is charged with tax evasion for more than 15 years. The charges include fraud, conspiracy and aggravated theft. In addition, the real estate company is accused of having falsified balance sheets in order to pay less taxes.
Eric Trump has already testified
It became known in December that James wanted ex-President Trump to make a statement. The fact that the investigators also want to question Ivanka and Donald Jr. is new, however. Son Eric Trump had also been summoned last year and finally had to testify on a court order. It can be assumed that the Trumps will also take legal action against the new summons.
The ex-president also sued James in December to force an end to their investigation. He accused the Democrat of the investigation violated his constitutional rights and was an attempt to publicly slander him and his business partners. “Your mission is guided solely by political hostility and a desire to harass, intimidate and take revenge on a private citizen whom you see as a political opponent,” wrote Trump’s lawyers. The attorney general’s investigations lasted more than two years.
Also the organization’s chief financial officer in court
James’s civil investigation is separate from the Manhattan District Attorney’s criminal investigation into Trump Organization’s longtime CFO Allen Weisselberg last July on charges of tax fraud. Weisselberg pleaded not guilty and was then released.
New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg is now leading the investigation. The successor to Cyrus Vance – in office since the beginning of the year – is the first African American in this position.