Ivanka Trump testimony summary
Ivanka Trump testified for more than four hours Wednesday in New York attorney general Letitia James’s civil fraud case against her father and his namesake company, as well as her brothers Donald Trump Jr and Eric. Government attorney Louis Solomon repeatedly questioned Ivanka about involvement in loan deals for her father.
While Ivanka repeatedly said she didn’t recall, multiple documents presented in court indicated that she had a role in loan deals for him. Here are some key points from her testimony this afternoon.
Ivanka said at various points that she didn’t know much about accounting. She said she’d learned about GAAP, or “generally accepted accounting principals”, in school, but didn’t do much with it in her working life. However, a December 2011 email about a deal between then Trump Organization executives David Orowitz and Allen Weisselberg stated: “Ivanka wanted me to change the language in the GAAP section. She asked that I review with you.” By undermining her prior claim, the government was suggesting that she would be in a position to know about questionable real estate valuations.
On cross-examination, Trump lawyer Jesus Suarez tried vehemently to convey that Deutsche Bank was chasing after the family’s business, to suggest that the ex-president wasn’t securing loans through spurious financials. Deutsche Bank wanted the Trumps, so they didn’t need to woo the lender fraudulently. Ivanka Trump said that Deutsche approached Trump with investment opportunities from time to time, and described a “level of excitement for the relationship and positive feelings”. Suarez also showed an email in which their banker at Deutsche asked her to participate in a promotional video.
As per usual with this case, Trump’s lawyers complained about alleged unfairness and accused the government of laughing at them. “I have to sit here and ask questions and listen to them laugh – that’s insulting, your honor,” Suarez boomed, pointing at the government table. “They’re laughing! They’re sitting back here laughing. They think this is funny.” Suarez also claimed: “The government is sitting here laughing at their attempts to destroy this company!” Suarez ended his cross-examination shortly thereafter.
James’s office said that they were not calling any more witnesses, but reserved the right to bring Weisselberg back to the stand. The defense is expected to start presenting its case on Monday.
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Letitia James’s team has said the government is resting, but will reserve the right to re-call Allen Weisselberg, the former Trump Organization chief financial officer. Weisselberg, who pleaded guilty to tax crimes, was the prosecution’s star witness during the Trump Organization criminal trial.
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