The New York judge overseeing the civil trial against former President Donald Trump and his business has ordered the ex-president’s elder daughter Ivanka Trump to take the stand and testify in the case against her family.
Judge Arthur Engoron made the ruling Friday after a lengthy back-and-forth with defense attorneys who said Mr. Trump’s daughter left the Trump Organization in 2017 and had been dismissed from the civil case, so forcing her to testify amounted to harassment of the Trumps.
The judge said Ivanka Trump conducted business in New York and owns property there, so her testimony is relevant. He said Ms. Trump could appeal the decision and would not have to testify before Wednesday.
New York Attorney General Letitia James brought the lawsuit, which alleges that Mr. Trump and his business manipulated financial statements to gain favorable terms on insurance and loans.
Her office said Ivanka Trump has relevant information despite not being a party to the case.
“She indisputably has personal knowledge of facts relevant to the claims against the remaining individual and entity defendants. But even beyond that, Ms. Trump remains financially and professionally intertwined with the Trump Organization and other defendants and can be called as a person still under their control,” the attorney general’s office said in a court filing.
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The trial, which is wrapping up its fourth week, has featured testimony from former accountants and Trump lawyer-turned-fixer Michael Cohen, who piqued Ms. James’ interest by telling Congress years ago that Mr. Trump had a penchant for manipulating statements about his assets.
Mr. Trump and his older sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump are parties to the case and are expected to testify in the coming days. The ex-president is scheduled to testify on Nov. 6.
Before the trial began, Judge Engoron found Mr. Trump liable for misrepresenting the value of some of his properties, handing Ms. James an early victory on one of her claims.
Mr. Trump says he’s done nothing wrong and that Ms. James and the presiding judge do not understand basic real estate practices. He said Mr. Cohen was untruthful in his testimony and that Democrats are leading a coordinated witch hunt to thwart his 2024 presidential bid.
Mr. Trump has visited the Manhattan courthouse sporadically throughout the trial. He is using the courthouse hallways and his social media platform to slam the judge and Ms. James.
Judge Engoron this week fined Mr. Trump $10,000, concluding the ex-president smeared his law clerk when he complained about a “very partisan” person next to the bench.
Mr. Trump claimed he was referring to Mr. Cohen.
Mr. Trump’s attorneys on Friday submitted a check for $15,000 to pay the fine and a separate, $5,000 penalty stemming from a post about the judge’s law clerk that was left on Mr. Trump’s campaign website.
• This story is based in part on wire service reports.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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