Ivanka Trump in a Manhattan courtroom.Photo:Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty
Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty
WhileIvanka Trumpattempted to distance herself from the Trump Organization during a five-hour testimony in a Manhattan courtroom on Wednesday, the New York attorney general still asserts that she “clearly was involved” in securing loans for her father’s company.
In Ivanka’s testimony, she said she did not know what valuations were included in her father’s financial statements, adding, “Those weren’t things that I was privy to," perThe New York Times.
But when James spoke to reporters outside the courthouse afterward, she remained skeptical.
Ivanka Trump in a Manhattan courtroom.Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg via Getty
Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg via Getty
“Ivanka Trump was cordial, she was disciplined, she was controlled and she was very courteous," James said of the former first daughter’s attitude in the courtroom, perCNN. “But her testimony raises questions with regards to its credibility, which will be a question for the finding of fact.”
“The reality is, is that based on the evidence, the documentary evidence, she clearly was involved in negotiating and securing loans, favorable loans, for the benefit of the Trump Organization, for Mr. Trump and her brothers and for herself," James alleged.
James said that the case hinges on “fraudulent statements of financial condition that [Ivanka] benefitted from, she was enriched.”
“And clearly you cannot distance yourself from that fact. The documents do not lie. The numbers do not lie,” James added. “And despite the fact that she was very, very nice, very friendly, the facts, basically, demonstrate the truth.”
Ivanka Trump leaves the New York State Supreme Court.James Devaney/GC Images
James Devaney/GC Images
Last week, Ivanka’s adult brothersDonald Trump Jr.andEric Trump— both of whom work for the Trump Organization — testified in the case. The former president himself has also taken the stand in the case, at moments engaging in fiery exchanges with the judge, who told his attorneys last week that theyneeded to “control” their client.
President Trump, who is currently running for another term in the White House, has denied that he or his company overvalued its properties, but in September, New York Judge Arthur Engoron issued a35-page rulingdeclaring that several properties were overvalued, including the members-only Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida.
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Since leaving office in January 2021, the former president has been mired in a number of legal issues and investigations. So far, four of those investigations have led to indictments — the first one making himthe only U.S. president to face criminal charges, and the next two further distinguishing him asthe only president to face federal charges.
Trump has been indicted ona total of 91 criminal countsthis year between the four investigations, several of which come with recommended prison time.
source: people.com
