.png)
Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump arrive at New York Supreme Court on Nov. 2, 2023.TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, the two eldest sons of former President Donald Trump, gave sworn testimony in a Manhattan courtroom regarding their involvement with financial records central to an ongoing civil fraud trial in New York. They asserted limited participation in preparing documents that allegedly inflated the value of Trump Organization properties and their father's wealth.
The case, brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James, alleges that the Trump family and their company were involved in a scheme that netted $250 million over a decade through manipulation of financial statements to secure favorable deals with banks and insurers. The Trump brothers hold the title of executive vice president and took over day-to-day operations at the Trump Organization when their father became president in 2017.
Despite the judge's prior ruling that found the Trumps and their company liable for fraud, the Trump sons, along with their father and several executives, have denied any wrongdoing. They claim that the trial is politically motivated to hinder Donald Trump's potential presidential run in the next election.
Donald Trump Jr.'s testimony extended over two days. While testifying, he emphasized that he had relied on financial experts, including the company's accountants, to provide accurate financial information. He also laid the blame for the alleged fraud on individuals like Allen Weisselberg, the company's chief financial officer.
Eric Trump followed with his testimony, asserting that he had minimal involvement with the financial statements under scrutiny. He argued that he wasn't involved in the specific documents at the core of the case.
The trial witnessed contentious exchanges between Eric Trump and the attorney general's lawyer, who attempted to establish inconsistencies in his statements compared to evidence collected by the attorney general's office. Despite the disagreements and challenges, Eric Trump's testimony was characterized as favorable to the case presented by the attorney general's office.
In the courtroom, the Trump sons downplayed their connections to the financial records, while the legal proceedings continued in the contentious civil fraud trial.
