Donald Trump Jr. will be the first witness called by the former president’s lawyers next week as they begin their defense case in the $250 million civil fraud trial against the family, according to Trump’s legal team.
New York Attorney General Letitia James rested her case on Wednesday after her office called Ivanka Trump as the 25th and final witness since the trial began six weeks ago.
The former president’s legal team is expected to present their case starting Monday, until December 15, after lawyers made a failed bid Thursday to immediately close the trial on the grounds that the Attorney General’s office had failed to prove its case.
However, Trump’s lawyers were handed a victory on Thursday when a judge rejected a motion by the AG seeking to bar four of their expert witnesses from testifying, according to an ABC News report.
Don Jr., 45, was called last week by James and questioned for less than four hours over two days.
Trump’s lawyers did not cross-examine the eldest son — possibly because they had plans to call him back as a witness in their own case.
Cross-examination can only cover topics that have been covered in direct questioning. By recalling witnesses instead of cross-examining them, a lawyer 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 the Trump side. Trump’s lawyer Christopher Kise has already said he plans to call Eric again during the defense case.
Donald Trump Jr. is expected to be the first witness called by the Trump team on Monday.Getty Images
It is unclear whether the former president, 77, or Ivanka, 41 – who testified on Monday and Wednesday respectively – will be called back by the defense.
The father and daughter are not due next week, according to sources familiar with the case. Trump’s legal team has not commented on whether they will be called next week.
Ivanka, unlike three other members of her family, was cross-examined by Trump’s lawyers on Wednesday — which could be an indication she will not be called again by the defense.
Trump’s eldest son already testified last week after he was called by the New York Attorney General’s Office.REUTERS
The former first daughter unsuccessfully fought her way out of court and was forced by Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron — and later the appeals court — to respond to the AG’s subpoena to take the witness stand.
All four Trumps were originally defendants in the AG’s case that accused Trump of lying on annual financial statements, inflating his assets by billions a year to get better loan and insurance terms.
But Ivanka was thrown out of the case in June when an appeals court found the claims against her fell outside the statute of limitations.
Donald Trump Sr., Eric and Ivanka all testified over the past two weeks at the $250 million fraud trial.REUTERS
The three brothers denied being involved in their father’s financial statements.
Testimony by Don Jr. and Ivanka seemed less tense than their father and Eric.
The eldest son used humor to ease the courtroom tension and deflected responsibility by claiming he relied on the firm’s accountant to manage the financial statements.
No witnesses were called on Thursday. Instead, lawyers on both sides took most of the day to argue a motion from Trump’s lawyers for a ruling to close the trial immediately and rule in favor of the former president on the grounds that the state failed to adequately prove its case.
Engoron said the hearing would continue on Monday, and noted that he would be “taken under advisement” of the arguments. Courts are closed Friday for Veterans Day.
But the judge awarded a small — and rare — victory to Trump’s side, finding that four expert witnesses they planned to call should not be barred from testifying as the AG’s lawyers had requested, ABC News reported.
“You have won the battle. We will see if you win the war,” Engoron told one of Trump’s lawyers.
With Postal wire
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
