Donald Trump Jr. Testifies He Never Worked on His Father's Financial Statements

Donald Trump Jr. testified on Wednesday that he never worked on his father's financial statements, the documents now at the heart of the civil fraud trial that threatens former President Donald Trump's real estate empire.

In a civil fraud trial that threatens former President Donald Trump's real estate empire, Donald Trump Jr. testified on Wednesday that he never worked on his father's financial statements, which are at the heart of the case.The former president's eldest son is an executive vice president of the family's Trump Organization and has been a trustee of a trust set up to hold its assets when his father was in the White House. At least one of the annual financial statements bore language saying the trustees "are responsible" for the document.

No Involvement in Financial Statements

However, Donald Trump Jr. stated that he did not recall ever working on any of the financial statements and had "no specific knowledge" of them. The lawsuit centers on whether the former president and his business misled banks and insurers by inflating his net worth on the financial statements. He and other defendants, including sons Donald Jr. and Eric, deny wrongdoing.Trump Jr. said he signed off on statements as a trustee but had left the work to outside accountants and the company's then-finance chief, Allen Weisselberg.

Reliance on Accountants

"I had an obligation to listen to the people with intimate knowledge of those things," he said. "I wasn't working on the document, but if they tell me that it's accurate, based on their accounting assessment of all of the materials," he said, "these people had an incredible intimate knowledge, and I relied on it."

Family Members to Testify

Donald Trump Jr. is the first family member to testify, and he is expected to return to the stand on Thursday. Next up will be his brother and fellow Trump Organization Executive Vice President Eric Trump and, on Monday, their father, the family patriarch, company founder, former president, and 2024 Republican front-runner. Daughter Ivanka, a former Trump Organization executive and White House adviser, is scheduled to take the stand on November 8. However, her lawyers appealed Judge Arthur Engoron's decision to require her testimony.

Lawsuit by New York Attorney General

New York Attorney General Letitia James brought the lawsuit, alleging that Donald Trump, his company, and top executives, including Eric and Donald Jr., conspired to exaggerate his wealth by billions of dollars on his financial statements. The documents were given to banks, insurers, and others to secure loans and make deals. The former president has called the case a "sham," a "scam," and "a continuation of the single greatest witch hunt of all time."

Judge's Role and Potential Consequences

Judge Engoron, who ruled before the trial that Trump's financial statements were fraudulent, will decide the current case. State law does not allow for juries in this type of lawsuit. The judge ordered that a court-appointed receiver seize control of some Trump companies, potentially stripping the former president and his family of marquee properties such as Trump Tower, though an appeals court has halted enforcement for now.

Defense Strategy and Witness Testimony

The Trumps are being summoned to the stand by James' office, but defense lawyers will also have a chance to question them and can call them back as part of the defense case later. During about 85 minutes on the witness stand Wednesday, Trump Jr. appeared collected, quipping "I should have worn makeup" as news photographers took his photo before questioning began. He made some more lighthearted asides during questioning about his education and career.

More seriously, he appeared to be laying the groundwork to blame any irregularities in the financial statements on the Trump Organization's longtime outside accountant, Donald Bender. Trump Jr. testified that the company "relied heavily on" Bender as a point person for just about anything we did, accounting-wise."

Bender, for his part, testified last month that Trump's company wasn't always forthcoming with all the information required for the financial statements.During a deposition, or sworn pretrial questioning, Eric Trump also said he hadn't had "any involvement in the statement of financial condition, to the best of my knowledge."

The civil fraud trial involving the Trump family and their financial statements continues to unfold, with Donald Trump Jr. testifying that he had no involvement in preparing the documents. As the trial progresses, the testimonies of other family members, including Eric Trump and former President Donald Trump himself, will be closely watched. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for the Trump Organization and its business dealings.