Ivanka Trump Testifies in Father’s High-Stakes Fraud Trial

Ivanka Trump, daughter of former U.S. President Donald Trump, took the stand as the state’s final witness in her father’s high-stakes civil fraud trial in New York. This trial has unveiled the inner workings of Trump’s business empire and could potentially lead to the loss of valuable New York properties.

The lawsuit, filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, alleges that Trump and his family businesses manipulated the values of real estate assets to deceive lenders and insurers while inflating Trump’s image as a successful businessman. Judge Arthur Engoron has already determined that this behavior amounts to fraud and is now deliberating the appropriate penalties.

Despite ongoing legal challenges, Donald Trump is a front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing and has accused James and Engoron of political bias and “election interference.”

Ivanka Trump’s testimony follows that of her two adult brothers, Donald Jr. and Eric Trump, who are also involved in the case but are not defendants. During her testimony, Ivanka clarified her limited involvement in the Trump Organization during her father’s 2017-2021 term in the White House.

In a previous ruling, Judge Engoron held Trump, his adult sons, and ten of his companies liable for fraud. This judgment could result in Trump losing control of some of his well-known properties, although it is currently on hold pending appeal. Attorney General James is seeking $250 million in fines and restrictions that would bar Trump and his adult sons from conducting business in New York.

In addition to this civil case, Trump faces four separate criminal cases, two of which pertain to his efforts to overturn Democrat Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election. Despite his legal challenges, Trump maintains a significant lead in opinion polls among potential Republican candidates for the upcoming presidential election.

Ivanka Trump’s testimony in this trial is yet another development in the ongoing legal battles surrounding the former president and his family’s business practices.

Re-reported from the article originally published in The Hindustan Times