Trump is especially 'spun up' about Ivanka testifying: legal expert

Pending a possible appeal, Ivanka Trump is expected to take the stand in a Manhattan courtroom on Friday where she will be grilled by prosecutors from New York Attorney General Letitia James' office over her complicity in financial fraud committed by the Trump Organization.

Due to a ruling by an appeals court that got her off the hook in the $250 million civil suit — citing the statute of limitations — what she says could have a major impact on the fortunes of Donald Trump and his two sons, Donald Jr. and Eric, as well as executives working for the company which could be dissolved.

With that in mind, former U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance noted that it is no wonder the former president appears more concerned with Ivanka's testimony since she faces no legal consequences — providing she doesn't commit perjury — than he does about his two sons, who are still employed by the company.

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On her Substack platform, Vance wrote that Trump is particularly "spun up" about Ivanka being compelled to testify after trying to duck a subpoena, with the attorney stating that his belief that his daughter should be excluded doesn't hold water.

As Vance notes, Ivanka is what is called a "fact witness" and not a defendant, and that precludes her from being excused.

"Who better to testify than someone with first-hand knowledge?" she wrote. "Ivanka was dismissed from the lawsuit because her direct participation happened too long ago to come within the “statute of limitations” — the number of years back the AG is permitted to go with her allegations. Fortunately for Ivanka, she left Trump Organization for the White House in 2017, which puts her beyond the reach of New York law as a defendant, but does nothing to rule her out as a witness."

Vance also noted it will be interesting to watch how Trump reacts to the three of his adult children testifying and whether he will be able to control himself in light of the existing gag order issued by Judge Arthur Engoron that has already cost the former president $15,000.

Engoron has already found the Trump Org liable for fraud in a summary judgment. The ongoing trial is largely to determine penalties.