The alleged value of Ivanka Trump’s Park Avenue penthouse came under scrutiny this week during testimony in the New York attorney general’s $250 million civil fraud case against the former president.
Donald Bender, a former accountant for Donald Trump at accounting firm Mazars USA, testified in Manhattan Supreme Court on Monday that he noticed a mistake between the value listed for the luxury pad on financial documents and its potential sale price.
Bender explained from the witness stand that, although he was not responsible for auditing the company’s finances, he would “from time to time” tell Trump Organization officials that there were discrepancies in the company’s financial documents, according to a CNN report.
He once pointed out that there was a difference in how Ivanka’s penthouse was valued on the financial documents compared to what was listed as a purchase option for her.
The discrepancy was cited in Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit against Trump, 77, son Eric and Donald Trump Jr., and family companies that allege that, from 2011 to 2021, they exaggerated the real estate tycoon’s net worth so he could earn more. many benefits. loan terms and insurance.
The suit states that Ivanka’s Trump Park Avenue apartment was valued at $20.8 million on financial statements in 2011 and 2012 despite an $8.5 million purchase option in the lease.
Trump’s former accountant Donald Bender said he saw a mistake in the value of Ivanka Trump’s penthouse compared to the price of her purchase option. Steven HirschDonald Trump attended the first two days of the trial. Trump allegedly valued Ivanka’s Manhattan penthouse at more than $20 million while he had an option to buy it for $8 million .Getty Images
His rental agreement stated that he could purchase the pad at a price “substantially below the market rent for similar units in the building,” according to the suit.
Ivanka was previously a defendant in the lawsuit until a June appeals court ruling dismissed the charges against her because they were outside the statute of limitations.
He and three other Trump family members in the case are all listed as witnesses and could be called to testify at the trial, which began Monday and is expected to last until the end of December.
New York Attorney General Letitia James is prosecuting a $250 million civil fraud case against Trump.AP
Mazars parted ways with the Trump Org in 2022, finding that Trump’s “Statement of Financial Condition” from 2011 to 2020 was “no longer reliable.”
Bender resumed his testimony on Tuesday, with Trump once again appearing in a courtroom in Lower Manhattan, wearing a blue suit, red tie and white shirt.
The 45th president and two-time GOP presidential candidate — who claims the case is a sham — repeatedly had side conversations with his attorney and fiddled with a piece of paper as the Attorney General’s office continued to question Bender.
James also attended the second day of the trial.
The case was decided by Judge Arthur Engoron instead of a jury.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
