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Investigations into possibly fraudulent business practices: Donald Trump must testify
Photo: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI / AFP
Former US President Donald Trump is required to testify under oath about his business practices as part of the New York State civil investigation.
A federal appeals court ruled on Thursday.
Trump's children Ivanka and Donald Junior must also testify.
The appeals court thus rejected the arguments of the Trumps, who wanted to refuse to testify, as New York Attorney General Letitia James announced.
Documents allegedly disappeared
The investigation is about the release of documents that Trump's team has so far refused.
The Attorney General, who is affiliated with the Democratic Party, is investigating Trump and his corporate empire over possible fraudulent business practices.
The broadcaster CNBC had reported that Trump's lawyers had said they could not find the documents requested for the investigation.
A few days ago it became known that the ex-president had paid a fine of 110,000 US dollars, the equivalent of around 104,000 euros, in the legal dispute.
Despite the payment, Trump still has to provide information for the search for documents.
Otherwise, he faces a fine of $10,000 a day for contempt of court.
Trump sees himself as a victim of a witch hunt
According to James, Trump and the Trump Organization used misleading financial reporting to gain economic advantage.
It is also about the suspicion that Trump's company is said to have given false information about the value of real estate.
Trump's company denies the allegations.
The ex-president repeatedly presented himself as a victim of a “witch hunt” in the process.
At the same time, criminal investigations against Trump and his empire are also underway in New York.
Anything he says in a civil hearing could also be used in this trial.
Donald Trump is the founder of the Trump Organization, his two sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump are the vice presidents of the company conglomerate, which is primarily active in the real estate sector.
taf/dpa/AP