Donald Trump Jr. will be the first witness called by the former president’s lawyers next week when they begin their defense case in the family’s $250 million civil fraud trial, according to Trump’s legal team.
New York Attorney General Letitia James suspended her case Wednesday after her office called Ivanka Trump as its 25th and final witness since the trial began six weeks ago.
The former president’s legal team is expected to present its case starting Monday through Dec. 15, after lawyers made an unsuccessful attempt Thursday to immediately close the trial by arguing that the attorney general’s office failed to prove Their case.
However, Trump’s lawyers scored a victory Thursday when the judge struck down a motion by the attorney general seeking to prevent four of his experts from testifying, according to an ABC News report.
Don Jr., 45, was called last week by James’ side and questioned for less than four hours spread over two days.
Trump’s lawyers did not question the eldest son, presumably because they planned to call him as a witness in their own case.
Cross-examination can only cover topics that were already covered in direct examination. By calling a witness rather than questioning him, an attorney can better control the narrative of the testimony.
Eric, 39, was also called by the attorney general’s office last week and was not questioned by Trump. Trump’s lawyer, Christopher Kise, has already said that he plans to remove Eric during the defense case.
Donald Trump Jr. is expected to be the first witness called by Trump’s team on Monday.Getty Images
It is unclear whether the defense will call again the former president, 77, or Ivanka, 41, who testified Monday and Wednesday, respectively.
The father and daughter are not scheduled for next week, according to a source with knowledge of the case. Trump’s legal team did not comment on whether they would be called next week.
Ivanka, unlike the other three members of her family, was questioned by Trump’s lawyers on Wednesday, which could be an indication that the defense will not withdraw her.
Trump’s eldest son already testified last week after being called by the New York Attorney General’s Office.REUTERS
The former first daughter fought unsuccessfully to stay out of court and was forced by Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron, and later by an appeals court, to respond to the attorney general’s subpoena to take the stand. .
The Trump four were originally charged in the attorney general’s case, accusing Trump of lying on annual financial statements, inflating his assets by billions a year to obtain better loan and insurance terms.
But Ivanka was dismissed from the case in June when an appeals court ruled that the claims against her fell outside the statute of limitations.
Donald Trump Sr., Eric and Ivanka testified over the past two weeks in a $250 million fraud trial.REUTERS
The three brothers denied having any involvement in their father’s disclosures of their financial situation.
Don Jr. and Ivanka’s testimony was noticeably less tense than that of their father and Eric.
The eldest son used humor to defuse tension in the courtroom and evaded responsibility by claiming that he trusted the company’s accountants to manage the financial statements.
No witnesses were called on Thursday. Instead, lawyers for both sides took most of the day to argue Trump’s lawyers’ motion for a verdict aimed at closing the trial immediately and ruling in favor of the former president on the grounds that the state failed to adequately prove Their case. .
Engoron said the trial would continue on Monday, saying he had “taken into account” the arguments. The courts are closed on Friday for Veterans Day.
But the judge handed a small (and rare) victory to Trump’s side, ruling that four experts they planned to call should not be barred from testifying as the attorney general’s lawyers had requested, ABC News reported.
“You’ve won the battle. We’ll see if you win the war,” Engoron told one of Trump’s lawyers.
With postal cables
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Source: vtt.edu.vn