Former President Donald Trump whined Wednesday about his “wonderful and beautiful daughter” Ivanka having to testify in the $250 million fraud case against him — after her failed bid to avoid the witness stand.
The former first daughter’s testimony will round out questioning of Trump family members — which began with Don Jr. and Eric last week and the former president on Monday.
Questioning of Ivanka by the New York Attorney General’s Office — which is prosecuting the case — is expected to last from roughly 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Trump’s team’s cross-examination of her could last through Thursday morning.
Ivanka, 41, tried to get out of showing up for the Manhattan Supreme Court trial but Justice Arthur Engoron — and an later an appeals court — rejected the request.
In a Truth Social post just after midnight, the former president said his “wonderful and beautiful daughter” was being summoned by “Letitia Peekaboo James, the Corrupt and Racist New York State Attorney General, who has allowed Murder and Violent Crime in New York to flourish.”
He also once more went after Ergoron, calling him an “out of control Clubhouse appointed Judge”, Arthur Engoron, ” who “viciously ruled against me before the trial even started.”
“Now they are trying to bring Ivanka into the case, despite the Court of Appeals ruling that she cannot be charged. Sad!”
Ivanka Trump is seen leaving her New York City apartment on her way to Manhattan Court to testify in her father’s fraud trial. Elder Ordonez / SplashNews.comIvanka, a businesswoman and mother of three, was previously a defendant alongside her family but was dismissed from the case in June by an appeals court which found the allegations against her fell outside of the statute of limitations.
Ivanka’s lawyer Bennet Moskowitz argued last month that she hasn’t lived in New York nor worked there since 2017.
Trump lawyer Christopher Kise noted that her presence in court would create another “circus day” at trial allegedly orchestrated by the AG’s office to draw more media to the courtroom.
But AG lawyer Kevin Wallace argued that Ivanka was “very much still involved” at Trump Org even though she hasn’t been an exec with the company since 2017.
“Ms. Trump has clearly availed herself of the privilege of doing business in New York,” said the judge.
“I want to see her in person. That is how we prefer testimony,” Engoron said.
Ivanka will be the last witness to be called by the AG’s office.
Once she conclude her testimony, Trump’s side will start its case.
Ivanka will be the last witness to be called by the AG’s office. Daniel William McKnight
Ivanka Trump is set to testify in the fraud case against her dad and brothers Don Jr. and Eric. AFP via Getty ImagesTrump’s roughly four hours on the stand Monday were marked by multiple clashes between him and his lawyers and Engoron.
The real estate tycoon gave long-winded answers to yes-or-no questions, according to the judge who asked more than once for Trump to stop making “speeches” from the stand.
During one such rambling answer from Trump, he yelled and pointed at the judge claiming Engoron carried out a fraud on him and calling the AG a “political hack.”
Her testimony follows questioning of Donald Trump Monday and her brothers last week.
The two elder Trump brother’s are expected to testify again once Trump’s side begins calling its own witnesses. Getty ImagesTrump’s lawyers said Monday that they planned to call Don Jr. and Eric as part of their case, as they did not cross-examine the two elder Trump sons when they were called by the AG’s office.
It was not immediately clear whether Trump or his daughter would be recalled by his lawyers.
The attorneys said they will likely be done with their case by Dec. 15.
