Donald Trump Jr was called to the stand in a New York courtroom Wednesday to testify in the civil fraud trial pitting his family and the Trump Organization against New York Attorney General Letitia James.
The first family member to face questioning regarding their involvement in the family business was Donald Trump Jr. In the upcoming days, Eric Trump, Ivanka Trump, and their father, Donald Trump, are also expected to testify under oath. Donald Trump Jr. is set to return for further questioning on Thursday.
The Trump Organization, the former president, and his two adult sons are facing allegations of engaging in a fraud scheme that allegedly earned them hundreds of millions of dollars through the false inflation of property valuations and Donald Trump’s wealth in dealings with banks and insurers. Ivanka Trump was initially named as a defendant when the state’s lawsuit was filed in September 2022, but the claims against her were later dismissed by a New York court due to being outside the statute of limitations.
On the stand, Trump Jr. was mostly cordial when addressing the attorney general’s lawyer, replying with brief responses to questions about his work history, responsibilities and the family dynamic within the company.
He cracked a few jokes, at one point apologizing for the speed with which he talks: “I apologize, Your Honor, I moved to Florida, but I kept the New York pace.” He said his father was not involved with decision-making at the company during his presidency, but said that he has “made some decisions” since 2021, when he left the White House. Donald Trump Jr
During his testimony, Donald Trump Jr. emphasized his extensive involvement in company projects, describing his role as an “all-encompassing developmental role” as executive vice president. He also managed the trust created for his father’s assets following the 2016 election. However, he admitted to having limited knowledge about a pivotal moment in the company’s history.
Trump Jr. acknowledged that he was aware of the departure of the company’s former chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, who had been with the company for almost half a century. Weisselberg left the company after being indicted for tax fraud in 2021. However, he claimed to have little information regarding the circumstances of Weisselberg’s departure.
Weisselberg, a long-time financial advisor to the elder Trump dating back to the 1970s, had previously testified during the trial that he and the company had agreed to a $2 million severance package shortly before he went to jail.