Former President Donald Trump and his sons Ivanka and Donald Jr. refuse to testify in an investigation into fraud by the Trump Organization, arguing that New York Attorney General Letitia James, has disclosed information that should be confidential about the inquest and possible criminal charges.
The Trumps’ attorneys filed a petition with the Supreme Court of New York to vacate the subpoena or wait for the criminal investigation to be completed.
“The parties named (the Trumps) have no alternative but to act to vacate the subpoenas or, alternatively, suspend the execution of the subpoenas until the criminal investigation is completed ”, indicates the petition signed by lawyers Alan Futerfas, Ronald Fischetti, Michael van der Veen.
This Monday, the prosecutor James inf Ordered that the state Supreme Court allowed the names of Ivanka and Donald Jr. to be integrated as part of the investigation, for which a summons to testify under oath was proceeded.
“While continuing her investigation into the financial transactions of the Trump Organization, Attorney General James seeks interviews under oath from Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump,” the Prosecutor’s Office indicated. “Despite numerous attempts by the Trump Organization to delay our investigation, we are confident that our questions will be answered and the truth will be discovered, because no one is above the law.”
The investigation of the New York Attorney General focuses on the manipulation of the value of properties of the Trump Organization to obtain tax benefits and with suppliers.
As part of the investigation initiated in 2019, Eric Trump has already testified about it, after a failed attempt to suspend the summons of prosecutor James.
In December, it was revealed that Prosecutor James wanted former President Trump to testify on January 7 about the investigation of his companies.
After the Trumps’ decision to present the motion, prosecutor James, who is a Democrat, accused the attempts to continue delaying the investigation that already has almost three years.
“For more than two years, members of the Trump family and the Trump Organization have continually sought to delay and impede our investigation… but despite their names they must follow the same rules as everyone else, “said the prosecutor.
He added that he will ask the New York Supreme Court to reject the Trumps’ motion and allow them to testify.
“Our investigation will continue,” stated prosecutor James.