Lawyers for former president’s daughter had claimed New York attorney general’s office had no jurisdiction over her
A New York judge has rejected Ivanka Trump’s argument that she should not have to testify at her father Donald Trump’s fraud trial.
Ivanka Trump’s lawyers – she has hired a separate legal team from her father – showed up to court on Friday to argue against a subpoena to testify from the New York attorney general Letitia James’s office, which brought the $250m fraud case against the former president, his eldest sons and other Trump executives.
“At the end of the day, your honor, they just don’t have jurisdiction over her,” Ivanka Trump’s attorney, Bennet Moskowitz, told the judge. Her lawyers argued that Trump no longer lives in New York and stepped down from her role at the Trump Organization in 2017.
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The judge, Arthur Engoron, told the court that he rejected her arguments, saying that she “clearly availed herself of the privilege of doing business in New York”, he said, citing documents that show Trump still has property and business ties in New York.
she could be held in contempt, but if commenting on questions which could incriminate her, she can absolutely plead the fifth, and appeal the contempt charge. you cannot be compelled to give evidence that's self incriminating, you can be offered a deal for your testimony, but you cannot be compelled. that's what taking the fifth means. you can't be compelled, but you can be asked, and if you refuse to testify on fifth amendment ground, the government simply has to make the case without your testimony. this is middle school social studies stuff, man.