The New York Supreme Court has rejected Donald Trump’s latest attempt to avoid testifying as part of the state attorney general’s civil investigation into his work, which is paving the way for his testimony in July.
The state appeals court ruled that there was no “substantive constitutional issue” that would justify its intervention in the case, after a lower-level court decided to uphold a subpoena for Trump to testify after he challenged it.
The appeals court also dismissed Trump’s attorney’s request to overturn the subpoena, on the grounds that the prosecution was “academic” because, from the start, it had not even received the former president’s claim.
Trump and his two eldest children, Ivanka and Donald Trump Jr, last week agreed to answer questions under oath, effective July 15, unless an appeals court decides to act.
The Associated Press requested comments from former President and Attorney General of New York Letitia James. Attorney Alan Wouterfas, who represents Ivanka and Donald Trump Jr., declined to respond.
The court’s appeals circuit ruled on May 26 that Trump should testify, upholding a lower court ruling that the attorney general’s office had the “right” to question Trump and other figures at his company, the Trump Organization.
James said his three-year investigation uncovered evidence that the Trump Organization overstated the value of its assets, including skyscrapers, golf courses and even penthouses in Manhattan, to secure loans, insurance and real estate gift tax credits.
A lawyer in his office told the judge last month that evidence could support legal actions against Trump, his company, or both, although the attorney general has yet to make a decision.
Trump criticized the investigation as a politically motivated “witch hunt” against him.
