During the interrogation, Trump released a statement in which he indicated that he would not answer any questions. He says he invokes his right to remain silent, because he believes that the investigation is politically motivated.
“I declined to answer the questions based on the rights and privileges granted to every citizen under the United States Constitution,” Trump said in his statement. According to him, he has no other choice because of what he calls a “witch hunt” against him by lawyers, prosecutors and the media, among others.
Two sources confirm to The New York Times that the former president actually kept silent.
James wants to know if The Trump Organization has misquoted real estate values for, among other things, tax breaks and increased loans. Trump’s silence does not have to be without consequences. If the investigation leads to a trial, the jury can take that into account.
Prosecution
As this is a civil investigation, Trump cannot be criminally convicted in this case. However, there are other investigations against Trump that could lead to criminal charges.
In addition to Trump, according to a Reuters source, his children are Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump in the case. It is not known whether they have answered questions. The three had tried in vain to have the subpoenas annulled through the courts. Trump’s appointment with James was originally scheduled for July, but was pushed back due to the death of Trump’s former wife Ivana Trump.
Own social network
Trump already said on his own social network Truth Social that he felt that his “great company and I are being attacked from all sides.” The New York Attorney General believes more than three years of investigations have revealed evidence that The Trump Organization misrepresented the value of assets in order to profit from them.
Trump’s questioning came days after a FBI raid on his Mar-a-Lago resort, allegedly in an investigation into classified documents taken from the White House. The former president has expressed his distrust about the investigation on the spot via his platform.