A video clip surfaced on Twitter that saw Donald Trump Jr. arriving at the Manhattan courthouse to testify in his father’s civil trial.
Donald Trump Jr. arrives at the Manhattan courthouse to testify in his father’s civil trial. pic.twitter.com/2JQVB4vhUe
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) November 1, 2023
It has been noted that the eldest son of former President Donald Trump has said that he did not work on the financial statements at the centre of a civil fraud trial that threatens the family’s property empire.
Donald Trump Jr. was apparently relaxed in the New York City court as he cracked jokes and denied wrongdoing. His siblings, Ivanka and Eric Trump, are due to testify in the coming days.
The judge has already found the Trump Organization exaggerated its wealth and falsified business records. It has come to light that the civil trial will determine what penalty should be imposed. New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, is seeking a fine of $250m (£204m) and a ban on the former president doing business in his home state.
Donald Trump Jr is the first of the Trump children to give evidence in this case. Earlier this week, he appeared on the conservative Newsmax network to call the trial a “sham” in a “kangaroo court”.
He and Eric Trump are co-defendants, alongside their father. The brothers are both executive vice-presidents at the Trump Organization.
Dressed in a blue suit and bright pink tie, Trump Jr. testified for a little over an hour. His testimony will resume on Thursday. The outset of his evidence focused on Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) – the standardised practices and guidelines that businesses use to ensure financial records are accurately maintained.
Mr Trump Jr said he was not familiar with GAAP, besides what he could recall from his time studying business at university.
Pressed by state attorney Colleen Faherty on his understanding of the subject, he drew chuckles in court as he responded: “I have no understanding.”
“I leave it to my accountants,” Mr Trump Jr said.
At another point Mr Trump Jr told the judge he was sorry for speaking too quickly for the court stenographer to keep up.
“I apologise, Your Honour, I moved to Florida, but I kept the New York pace,” he joked.
He told the court that he has done “anything and everything” during his time working for the family business. He is not an accountant, however.
Mr Trump Jr testified that his role in the company grew after his father, the Republican president, won the White House.
