Donald Trump Jr. to take the witness stand as defense builds case in $250 million fraud trial

Donald Trump Jr. is set to testify again in New York as defense lawyers for the Trump family firm present their case in the $250 million fraud trial.

Trump Jr. is the first witness on the defense’s slate, which includes Donald Trump and Eric Trump, although it remains uncertain whether they will be called to testify.

The New York attorney general’s office is suing Trump Organization executives, including Trump Jr., for allegedly inflating asset values ​​in financial statements.

The case, which could result in fines of at least $250 million if convicted, led prosecutors to drop the case after Ivanka Trump testified last Wednesday.

Meanwhile, a New York judge has already ruled that Trump must revoke his business licenses for fraud pending an appeals court review.

Trump Jr. previously testified on Nov. 1, claiming he did not work on the financial statements in question, despite signing several documents attesting to their accuracy. He suggested that banks should conduct their own “due diligence” rather than relying on financial statements.

During his first appearance, Trump Jr. was not questioned by his team. Now, his lawyers aim to argue that the lenders were not harmed and actively sought relationships with the Trump family.

Throughout the trial, the Trumps downplayed the importance of the financial statements, stressing that they were handled by the agency’s accountants and legal departments.

Despite evidence showing their involvement in the financial statements, the Trumps claim they don’t remember working or using them. When Donald Trump himself testified, he criticized the judge and New York Attorney General Letitia James, while his children, especially Ivanka Trump, tried to undermine the importance of the financial statements.

Trump’s defense team plans to wrap up witness statements by Dec. 15, with the trial scheduled to last through Dec. 22, though it could potentially end sooner.