A U.S. Court has ruled that Ivanka Trump, daughter of U.S former President, Donald Trump must testify against her father and two brothers in an ongoing New York business fraud case.
According to multiple reports, Ms Trump, who had previously been dismissed as a defendant in the case, has been mandated to provide evidence against her fathet, despite objections from her lawyers and the defence.
The state prosecutors believe her past role in the Trump Organization as executive vice president makes her testimony important in uncovering alleged fraud charges against her father and two brothers Eric and Donald Jr, as reported by Sky News.
The New York Attorney General’s Office also said the former president will testify on 6 November and his three children will take the stand before him.
Their testimony is expected over three days from Wednesday next week, starting with Donald Trump Jr.
Judge Arthur Engoron has already ruled that Mr Trump inflated the value of his properties to secure favourable loans.
The trial focuses on six other claims made in the lawsuit, including falsification of business records, insurance fraud and conspiracy.
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Mr Trump has previously said he would take the stand at the earliest opportunity. He and the other defendants have denied the allegations.
His daughter Ivanka had previously sought not to take the stand, arguing that she had moved out of the city to Florida and had stepped away from the Trump Organization in 2017.
But Judge Engoron said she still maintains ties to Trump businesses and real estate in New York.
Prosecutors have argued that Ms Trump has important information to share about the events being examined in the case.
In his ruling on Friday about Ivanka testifying, Judge Engoron sided with the prosecutors, writing: “Ms Trump has clearly availed herself of the privilege of doing business in New York.”
He cited documents showing that she still had ownership or management ties to some businesses in New York, and that she still owns Manhattan apartments.
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The civil fraud case was brought against the former president by New York Attorney General Letitia James, who is a Democrat.
Ms James is seeking $250m (£205m) in penalties and severe restrictions for Mr Trump’s businesses.
Mr Trump, the front-runner for the Republican nomination in the 2024 election, has dismissed the case as politically motivated and a “sham”.
