Former President Donald Trump and his children must answer questions as part of New York Attorney General Letitia James’ civil probe into his business and financial dealings, a judge ruled Thursday.
Manhattan Judge Arthur Engoron ordered Mr. Trump and his two children, Ivanka and Donald Trump Jr., to comply with subpoenas, requiring them to sit for a deposition within 21 days. Mr. Trump is also required to produce certain documents as part of the subpoena.
“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.” Judge Engoron wrote.
Mr. Trump’s attorneys are expected to appeal the ruling.
The former president said after review millions of documents, the attorney general’s office has come up with a “fringe benefits” case concerning a car, apartment and grandchildren’s education expenses.
“She is doing everything within their corrupt discretion to interfere with my business relationships, and with the political process,” he said. “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!”
Ms. James has alleged the former president’s business engaged in “fraudulent or misleading” valuations in obtaining loans and tax breaks.
Ms. James said the judge’s move meant “justice prevailed.”
“Donald J. Trump, Donald Trump, Jr., and Ivanka Trump have been ordered by the court to comply with our lawful investigation into Mr. Trump and the Trump Organization’s financial dealings. 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,” she said.
Mr. Trump’s lawyers said having him sit for a deposition in a civil probe while his business is also the subject of a criminal investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office would be damaging to him.
They wanted the court to void the subpoenas or put the civil probe on hold until the criminal matter was resolved.
“If he goes in and follows my advice, which will be you cannot answer these questions without … immunity because that’s what the law provides, and take the Fifth Amendment, that’ll be on every front page in the newspaper in the world. And how can I possibly pick a jury in that case?” said Ronald Fischetti, one of Mr. Trump’s attorneys.
The judge, though, suggested Mr. Trump and his children could refuse to answer, asserting their Fifth Amendment right to remain silent. Eric Trump, the president’s other son, previously refused to answer questions.
Ms. James’ office began investigating Mr. Trump’s business in 2019 after Michael Cohen, the president’s former attorney, said financial records had been manipulated to obtain loans and gain tax benefits.
“The impetus for the investigation was not personal animus, not racial or ethnic or other discrimination, not campaign promises, but was sworn congressional testimony by former Trump associate Michael Cohen that respondents were ‘cooking the books,’” the judge said in the 8-page ruling.
• This article is based in part on wire service reports.
• Alex Swoyer can be reached at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.
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