Trump to testify under oath Wednesday in N.Y. civil investigation, reports say

Aug. 10 (UPI) — Former President Donald Trump will be questioned under oath on Wednesday in the most serious escalation of New York’s three-year civil investigation into questionable financial dealings inside the Trump Organization.

The investigation led by New York Attorney General Letitia James is believed to be reaching its final stages and Trump is expected to be questioned behind closed doors. He will, however, still have the option to assert his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

Trump lost a months-long court battle to avoid testifying in the case.

The New York Times, NBC News and CNN reported that Trump’s deposition will occur on Wednesday. NBC News said that an attorney for the former president confirmed that he will be deposed, although it wasn’t clear whether he will appear in person or remotely.

Trump was in New York this week when the FBI raided his Florida home as part of a separate investigation involving documents from Trump’s White House. Dozens of agents were involved in the raid, which was related to potentially missing documents that Trump may have taken with him to Florida when he left office in 2021.

James’ office has been investigating Trump’s business dealings and is deciding whether to file a civil suit against he and his company. She’s said previously that her office has found “substantial evidence establishing numerous misrepresentations” in financial statements given by Trump to banks and the Internal Revenue Service.

Trump has denied wrongdoing and denounced both the New York investigation and the FBI’s raid on Monday night. Some Trump-aligned Republicans and supporters have demanded an explanation for why the bureau raided Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Fla.

“My great company, and myself, are being attacked from all sides,” he said of the New York investigation in a social post, according to the Times.

Former President Donald Trump speaks to supporters at a rally in Waukesha, Wis., last Friday for Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Tim Michels. Photo by Alex Wroblewski/UPI

In another setback, Trump also lost a federal appeal this week to prevent a congressional committee from accessing his prior tax returns. Trump has fought for years to keep those returns private.

Separately, the Manhattan district attorney’s office is conducting its own criminal investigation into the Trump Organization, and Trump’s answers in Wednesday’s deposition could carry weight in that case. He’s also implicated in another federal investigation related to efforts in Georgia to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

James’ investigation, which began in March 2019, is specifically looking into whether Trump’s real estate business enriched itself by inflating the value of his properties, including his hotels and golf clubs.

In a court filing earlier this year, James described the Trump Organization’s business practices as “fraudulent or misleading” — but at the time said her office could not determine who was responsible among Trump and two of his adult children.

Ivanka Trump, who was a senior White House adviser during his administration, and Donald Trump Jr. have already testified under oath in the case.

Earlier this week, real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield turned over more than 35,000 documents to James’ office as part of the investigation. Cushman & Wakefield has appraised several of Trump’s properties.

Trump has given sworn testimony about his financial statements in the past, too, and some of his closest advisers are trying to convince him to do the same this time around. Others say Trump should keep quiet to avoid legal jeopardy, which could potentially ruin any chances of him holding office again in the future.

Trump has previously equated pleading the Fifth to admitting guilt.

“If you’re innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment,” Trump asked during a campaign stop in 2016.

Vice President Kamala Harris (L) and Sweden’s ambassador to the United States, Karin Ulrika Olofsdotter (R), look on as President Joe Biden signs ratification documents approving Finland and Sweden’s NATO membership at the White House on Tuesday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo