Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of former President Donald Trump, appeared as a witness in his father’s real estate fraud trial on Wednesday. This marks the first time that one of the former president’s children has testified in this case, which involves a potential penalty of $250 million and a ban on the Trump Organization operating in New York.
Don Jr. was subpoenaed in the fraud case, which has been brought against multiple members of the Trump family as well as the Trump Organization. It is expected that Eric Trump will also testify later this week, followed by his father and Ivanka Trump next week.
The testimony of Don Jr. could have a significant impact on the penalties that Judge Arthur Engoron imposes. In late September, Engoron ruled that the former president had defrauded banks and insurers by inflating the value of his assets and exaggerating his net worth in order to secure deals and financing. Don Jr., as the oldest child, oversees the Trump Organization’s portfolio of properties and is responsible for commercial leasing for Trump Tower and other properties, according to the state’s lawsuit.
Meanwhile, the New York Attorney General’s Office has requested that the judge confiscate all financial benefits received by each defendant, which is estimated to be around $250 million, and prohibit Trump family members from holding high-ranking positions in a New York corporation.
It should be noted that an appeals court has already dismissed the case against Ivanka Trump, citing the passage of too much time since her involvement in the Trump Organization. However, Engoron has still ordered her to testify based on a state subpoena.
Although the former president will not be present in the courtroom on Wednesday, he has voluntarily attended several previous days of the trial. Trump is currently traveling to Texas and has a campaign event scheduled for Thursday at an offshore oil and gas drilling company in Houston.
Despite his absence, Trump did not refrain from criticizing Judge Engoron for allowing his family members to testify. In a message posted at 2:28 a.m. Eastern Time, Trump wrote, “Leave my children alone, Engoron. You are a disgrace to the legal profession!”
This article was originally published on USA TODAY under the title “Donald Trump Jr. testifies in Trump fraud trial in New York.”
