Trump and His Children Don Jr. and Ivanka Refuse to Be Deposed in New York Tax Dodging Investigation
The Trump family is said to have turned over records and testimony to the New York Attorney General surrounding the Trump family’s alleged tax evasion. Predictably, they didn’t. So for now, investigators are turning up the heat on former President Donald Trump himself, Don Jr. and Ivanka.
Three Trump family members are being added as “answers” in an ongoing legal battle with New York Attorney General Leticia James, according to a document filed in New York state court on Wednesday morning. Two.
inside apply to courtAG’s office said it recently issued subpoenas to the former chairman and his two adult children “for testimony and documents” related to an investigation into asset valuations. property,” but “dispute arose”. Now the state’s top prosecutor wants to force them to cooperate.
Law enforcement was not available for comment. So is the office of the former president.
Since James took office in January 2019, she has made good on campaign promises to get the family business, the Trump Organization, scrutinized by extreme real estate valuations. his difference. The documents show the family persistently trying to lower their tax bill by demanding favorable valuations for several properties, such as a luxury forest and a golf course north of New York City. According to court filings, AG investigators also explored the possibility of bank fraud.
Investigators are focusing on the former president and his children, because Donald Trump led the company with tight control until he entered the White House in 2017, when his children were. take more control.
In September, the state judge overseeing the case unsealed a court order that issue ultimatums to Trump and his top lieutenants: comply with a subpoena or pay a third party to do it for you. Monday’s filing in court now shows the extent to which Trump and his children have resisted personally submitting themselves to the test.
Tensions flared up last month when Trump sued AG in federal court, using the case to smear the civil investigation as a political prosecution. Unbeknownst to the public, AG’s office in December sent subpoenas to the former president, Don Jr., and Ivanka seeking to ask them to sit down to take the oath of custody, according to a person familiar with the matter. .
The Trump family is expected to soon file a document with the court to block the subpoena, according to the filing, also signed by two attorneys representing Trump. Ronald P. Fischetti is an attorney hired to represent the former president and Alan S. Futerfas is an attorney at the Trump Organization.
Another member of the Trump family has tried to resist in the past — and it didn’t work out. Trump’s third son, Eric Trump, resisted the subpoena until he finally buckled up and sit down to deposit on October 5, 2020.
This civil investigation is separate from the joint criminal tax fraud investigation being conducted as a joint operation between AG and the Manhattan District Attorney. Other circumstances lead to an indictment against the Trump Organization and its chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg. His trial has been set for the end of this year.
