Donald Trump and two of his sons will have to testify in an investigation into their tax practices

A new setback for Donald Trump, as he leaves doubts about his intentions in the 2024 presidential election. A judge in New York on Thursday, February 17th ordered the former president and two of his sons, Donald Jr and Ivanka, to testify under oath in the context of a civil investigation into his group’s tax practices.

After a video hearing, the judge denied the Trump camp’s request to revoke the testimony request filed by Democratic Attorney Letitia James, who suspects the businessman was involved in the fraud.

As a result, the judge ordered the 45th President of the United States “to appear and testify within 21 days of this decision,” that is, March 10. Something that also applies to his two children, also in the crosshairs of Letitia James. However, the 75-year-old businessman can still appeal the judge’s decision and can, in any event, choose not to answer the prosecutor’s questions.

The civil investigation was accelerated in January when Leticia James announced that she had met “Important evidence indicates that Donald J. Trump and the Trump Organization have falsely and fraudulently valued a number of assets.”in order to obtain economic benefits.

These actions are taking place in parallel with a separate investigation, this time criminal and carried out by the Office of the Attorney General in Manhattan, in which the Trump Organization and its chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, have been charged with tax evasion. They have pleaded not guilty and the trial is set to begin in mid-2022.