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5 points you need to know from Ivanka Trump’s testimony in dad Donald Trump’s fraud trial

Ivanka Trump's NY courtroom testimony resonated with her brothers' testimonies from last week

MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: Ivanka Trump's court appearance came after dramatic testimonies from her brothers, Eric and Donald Trump Jr, from the previous week, and her father Donald Trump’s epic courtroom appearance on Monday.

On Wednesday, November 8, Ivanka Trump testified calmly and occasionally smiled, which was in stark contrast to her father Donald Trump's belligerent behavior during his appearance on Monday at the civil fraud trial.

The trial will decide the fate of the Trump Organization's operations in New York state. It will assess the amount of damages and determine whether the business certificates that authorize its operations in the state should be revoked.

Ivanka’s testimony resonated with that of her father and brothers from the previous weeks, citing her lack of acquaintance and overall unfamiliarity with the company's financial statements, which are crucial to the ruling of the lawsuit.

Letitia James, the New York Attorney General, has filed a lawsuit against the Trump Organization, Donald Trump, his two sons, and two executives, seeking $250 million in damages.

In a previous ruling, Judge Arthur Engoron found that Trump had committed fraud for many years with respect to valuing his real estate, although his lawyers have vowed to appeal the decision.

Here are 5 points to note from Ivanka’s courtroom appearance on Wednesday

1) Trump Organization’s financial statements are unknown to Ivanka Trump

During her testimony, Ivanka Trump echoed her brothers' statements, saying that she was not very familiar with her father's personal statements on his financial condition.

The financial statements were important because they allowed Donald Trump to secure better terms on loans and insurance, as per the state of New York.

However, in September, Judge Engoron ruled that the statements were fraudulent for years.

Ivanka, who was a former executive vice president of the family business, before joining her father at the White House in 2017 as a senior advisor, stated that she was not aware of her father's financial dealings.

“I wasn’t involved in his statement of financial condition,” she testified.

“Those were not things that I was privy to,” she added.

2) Ivanka questioned over the Old Post Office project

During the trial, Ivanka Trump was questioned by Louis Solomon, a lawyer representing the attorney general's office, about the Old Post Office project in Washington, DC that her father developed into a hotel.

The lawyer asked her if she remembered the federal General Services Administration requesting her father's financial statements related to the project.

Ivanka Trump, who was responsible for negotiating both the lease and loan related to the property, said she recalled the agency asking a "series of questions on all sorts of elements related to our proposal."

However, she did not remember one of those questions being related to her father's financial statements.

Per the state's lawsuit, Deutsche Bank provided financing of up to $170 million in connection with the purchase and renovation of the property, and it was tied to a certification from Donald Trump that his financial statement was accurate.

3) Corporate fraud personally benefited Ivanka Trump

Before the trial reconvened, New York Attorney General Letitia James, who initiated the investigation, informed the media that Ivanka Trump was closely connected to corporate fraud at the company.

“She benefitted from it personally,” James stated.

“Ms Trump will do all that she can to separate herself from this corporation, but she is inextricably tied to the Trump Organization and to these properties that she helped secure financing for. You cannot hide from the truth.”

4) Protesters demanded that Ivanka Trump and her father be charged

Protesters gathered outside the New York courthouse awaiting the arrival of Ivanka Trump. They demanded that she be criminally prosecuted, despite the fact that she was not a defendant in the civil fraud trial, unlike her father and two brothers.

During the testimony on Monday, Ivanka Trump's composed demeanor stood in plain contrast to the combative act of her father, Donald Trump.

The latter was repeatedly at odds with the judge and was reprimanded for answering questions with political speeches.

He had previously been fined a total of $15,000 for two violations of the judge's restrictions related to the judge's clerk.

In contrast, Ivanka Trump's testimony was even-tempered and she occasionally smiled broadly.

An appeals court had previously removed her from the civil case in New York, stating that her involvement in the Trump Organization was too far in the past.

However, the civil lawsuit does not seek criminal penalties, but rather $250 million in damages and a ban on the former president from running a business in New York state.

5) What comes next in the $250 million civil fraud trial?

The government's case against Trump is coming to a close, as per New York Attorney General Letitia James.

She stated that Thursday would be focused on arguing motions, while the defense is expected to present their case on Monday.

The government will argue against four Trump witnesses it seeks to block from testifying, including Steven Laposa, Jason Flemmons, Steve Witkoff, and David Miller.

The government contends that three of the planned witnesses are no longer necessary after the judge, Engoron, ruled that Trump had committed fraud in real estate valuation for years.

Additionally, the government argues that Miller and Witkoff were meant to rebut government experts who were not called, so there is no need for them to testify.