Ivanka Trump, the eldest daughter of former President Donald Trump, took the stand on Tuesday as the last witness for the prosecution in the civil fraud trial against her father and his family. The trial, which began on October 23, is about whether the Trumps misled investors in their marketing of four luxury real estate projects around the world.
Ivanka Trump had previously tried to avoid appearing in court, claiming it would cause her undue hardship. She left the Trump Organization in 2017 to become a White House aide for her father. She was also a co-defendant in the case, but an appeals court removed her from the lawsuit in June 2023.
In her testimony, Ivanka Trump denied any wrongdoing and said she was not involved in the financial details of the projects. She said she was not privy to the financial statements of the Trump Organization or any of its affiliates. She also said she did not know how the Trumps calculated the percentage of units sold in the projects, which was one of the main allegations of the plaintiffs.
The plaintiffs, a group of investors who bought units in the projects, claim that the Trumps inflated the sales figures and lied about their involvement in the developments. They say they were deceived by the Trumps’ name and fame and expected to benefit from their expertise and reputation. They are seeking $2.8 billion in damages.
The defense argues that the plaintiffs are not victims, but sophisticated investors who made a calculated risk and lost. They say the Trumps did not lie to anyone, did not deceive anyone, and did not cheat anyone. They also say the projects failed due to the global financial crisis and other factors beyond their control.
The former president testified on Monday, and his two sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, testified last week. All of them denied any fraud and blamed the developers and the media for the failures of the projects.
The trial is expected to last for several weeks and could have implications for the political future of the Trump family. The former president has hinted at running for office again in 2024, while Ivanka Trump has been rumored to have political ambitions of her own.
The trial is being presided over by Judge Ramos, who said the trial is not about politics, but about the truth. He said he wants to hold the Trumps accountable for their actions and ensure a fair and impartial trial.
Relevant articles:
– Trump fraud trial live updates: Ivanka Trump to take the stand next after Donald Trump’s testimony, NBC News, 11/8/2023
– Ivanka Trump fraud trial testimony: what we’ve learned at a glance, The Guardian, 11/8/2023
– Live updates: Ivanka Trump testifies in New York fraud trial, MSN, 11/8/2023
– Trump fraud trial live blog: Ivanka Trump says she wasn’t ‘privy to’ father’s financial statements, ABC News, 11/8/2023