‘I want to see her in person’: Judge rules Ivanka Trump must testify at her father’s trial

The judge overseeing the $250 million civil fraud case against Donald Trump has ruled that the former president’s eldest daughter, Ivanka Trump, must appear in court to testify in the trial.

On Friday, Judge Arthur Engoron denied Ivanka Trump’s motion to quash the trial subpoenas she was served, according to ABC News.

“I want to see her in person. That is how we prefer testimony,” Engoron said.

Ivanka’s attorney, Bennet Moskowitz, argued that the state’s justification for bringing Ivanka to the courtroom “falls on its face,” according to the network. Moskowitz stressed that his client has not lived in or done business in New York since 2017, and called the state’s argument as “a bridge too far.”

“State attorney Kevin Wallace defended the subpoenas by arguing Ivanka Trump was a former Trump Organization executive who was the main contact with lenders for Trump’s Washington D.C. Old Post Office hotel. Wallace added that Ivanka Trump still owns properties in New York and operates business here,” ABC News reported.

“Ms. Trump owns property in New York and has done business in New York,” Engoron said in his ruling.

Without a jury, Trump’s fate rests in Justice Engoron’s hands as he will determine the outcome of the trial and decide on any penalties.

The judge said for her lawyers to have time to appeal his ruling, Ivanka’s testimony should not be scheduled before next Wednesday.

“A trial is a search for the truth, and the law is entitled to every person’s evidence,” Engoron said.

On Wednesday, Trump’s temper flared when Engoron deemed the former president “not credible” and fined him $10,000 for allegedly violating a gag order that prevents him from speaking out about the judge’s staff.

Trump exclaimed under his breath, “Unbelievable,” threw his arms up in the air and stormed out of the courtroom, much to the surprise of his Secret Service detail.

“The witness just admitted that we won the trial, and the judge should end this trial immediately,” he told reporters outside the courtroom.

Here’s a quick sampling of responses to the story as seen on Twitter:

Tom Tillison

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