Trump must testify in New York AG's probe into his company, judge rules


Former President Donald Trump must testify in New York Attorney General Letitia James' civil investigation into his business practices, a judge ruled Thursday, per The Associated Press.
The judge, Arthur Engoron, ordered Trump, as well as his two eldest children — Ivanka and Donald Trump Jr. — to comply with James' December-issued subpoenas and sit for a deposition within 21 days.
Should Engoron's ruling be upheld (and it is "almost certain to be appealed," AP writes), it could "force the former president into a tough decision about whether to answer questions, or stay silent, citing his Fifth Amendment right against self incrimination."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
James' long-running civil probe into the Trump Organization centers around whether the company misled lenders by inflating the value of its assets. Meanwhile, the Manhattan district attorney's office is leading a concurrent criminal investigation.
Trump's testimony in the civil investigation could be used against him in the criminal investigation, AP notes. Another one of the ex-president's children — Eric Trump — as well as former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg have previously sat for depositions in the civil investigation, where they "invoked their Fifth Amendment rights hundreds of times."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
The First Homosexuals: The Birth of a New Identity, 1869–1939
Feature Wrightwood 659, Chicago, through Aug. 2
-
Why the FDA wants to restrict kratom-related products
In the Spotlight The compound is currently sold across the United States
-
Israeli NGOs have started referring to Gaza as a 'genocide' — will it matter?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION For the first time since fighting began in 2023, two Israeli rights groups have described their country's actions in the Gaza Strip as 'genocide' while famine threatens the blockaded Palestinian territory
-
Senate confirms Trump loyalist Bove to top court
Speed Read The president's former criminal defense lawyer was narrowly approved to earn a lifetime seat
-
Ghislaine Maxwell offers testimony for immunity
Speed Read The convicted sex trafficker offered to testify to Congress about her relationship with late boyfriend Jeffrey Epstein
-
Judge halts GOP defunding of Planned Parenthood
Speed Read The Trump administration can't withhold Medicaid funds from Planned Parenthood, said the ruling
-
Trump contradicts Israel, says 'starvation' in Gaza
Speed Read The president suggests Israel could be doing more to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians
-
The Pentagon's missing missiles
Feature The U.S. military is low on weapons. Can it restock before a major conflict breaks out?
-
Rescissions: Trump's push to control federal spending
Feature The GOP passed a bill to reduce funding for PBS, NPR and other public media stations
-
Knives come out for Pam Bondi
IN THE SPOTLIGHT She wasn't Trump's first pick to lead the Justice Department. After months of scandals and setbacks, is the attorney general's MAGA shelf life winding down?
-
Can Gaza aid drops work?
Today's Big Question UN's Palestinian refugee agency calls plan a 'distraction and smokescreen' as pressure mounts on Israel to agree ceasefire and fully open land crossings