Donald Trump Jr. takes witness stand in civil fraud case against his father’s business empire
NEW YORK — Donald Trump’s eldest son and co-chief of his business empire, Donald Trump Jr., began testifying Wednesday in the $250 million civil trial in which both men stand accused of widespread corporate fraud.
Lawyers for New York Attorney General Tish James were expected to question Trump Jr. about his involvement in preparing financial documents related to his father’s net worth. James’ office has accused Donald Trump, his adult sons and business associates of fraudulently inflating the value of Trump’s assets in order to obtain favorable terms from insurers and banks.
Though the former president has attended the trial a few days a week since it started at the beginning of October, he wasn’t in the courtroom Wednesday to see Donald Trump Jr. testify.
“I should have worn makeup,” Trump Jr., wearing a navy suit and bubblegum pink tie, joked as photographers took pictures of him sitting at the defense table prior to walking to the witness stand.
Trump Jr. is the first of three Trump children who are expected to testify. His brother Eric Trump, another co-defendant in the case, is also expected to testify this week. Their sister Ivanka Trump is scheduled to testify next week. The two Trump brothers are co-defendants in the case. Ivanka was dismissed as a defendant before the trial.
The former president himself is scheduled to take the stand on Monday.