Eric Trump, Donald Trump's son most involved in running his father's affairs, will have to testify under oath by October 7 as part of an investigation into the real estate assets of the family business, without waiting for the presidential election as he requested, decided Wednesday a New York judge.
The New York State Democratic attorney who opened the investigation, Letitia James, has been asking since May to be able to hear Eric Trump, 36, who became the main manager of the holding company that is the Trump Organization after the departure of his father for the White House in early 2017.
Although Eric Trump has assured to be ready to
"cooperate"
with this investigation, his lawyers had recently asked to postpone the deadline after the presidential election of November 3, arguing the busy schedule of Eric Trump, very involved in his campaign. dad.
The prosecutor challenged this request for postponement in state court, and also asked that the Trump Organization be forced to provide documents concerning several real estate of the family holding company, including a building on Wall Street and the Trump International Hotel. from Chicago.
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On Wednesday, after a hearing, Judge Arthur Engoron ruled in his favor.
He considered Eric Trump's apology
“unconvincing”
and stressed that neither he nor the prosecutor was
“bound by the timetable for a national election”
.
"We will immediately do what is necessary for Donald Trump and the Trump Organization to comply with the judge's decision
,
"
Letitia James said in a statement.
"Today's ruling clearly shows that no one is above the law, not even an organization or individual with the Trump name
.
"
This investigation is one of the multiple legal fronts concerning Donald Trump and his family.
The prosecutor said she opened this investigation in 2019, after Donald Trump's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen - since convicted - testified before the US Congress that the tycoon had over-valued or undervalued some of his property. real estate to obtain loans or tax reductions.
As part of another investigation, Donald Trump was also called upon by another Democratic prosecutor, Manhattan prosecutor Cyrus Vance, to provide eight years of accounting records.
Despite a ruling against the president by the U.S. Supreme Court in July, his lawyers continue to fight to avoid handing over the documents, and the case could end up in the Federal Supreme Court again.
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