Judge rules that Trump, 2 of his children must testify under oath in New York probe

By Faruk Zorlu

ANKARA (AA) - Former US President Donald Trump and his two eldest children must answer questions under oath in a New York investigation of their family's business practices, a judge ruled Thursday.

Trump, his daughter Ivanka and Donald Trump Jr. were ordered to comply with subpoenas issued in December by New York Attorney General Letitia James for their testimony.

They must sit for depositions by investigators for James within the next 21 days.

The former president was also ordered to comply within 14 days with a subpoena’s demand for documents and other information, according to the CNBC television network.

"In the final analysis, a State Attorney General commences investigating a business entity, uncovers copious evidence of possible financial fraud, and wants to question, under oath, several of the entities’ principals, including its namesake," CNBC said, citing Judge Arthur Engoron in his ruling.

“No one will be permitted to stand in the way of the pursuit of justice, no matter how powerful they are," James said on Twitter.

"Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr., and Ivanka Trump must all comply with this court order and testify before my office within 21 days. No one is above the law," she added.

Ron Fischetti, an attorney for Trump, vowed a speedy appeal of the ruling, the Business Insider website reported.

"We believe that we have a very, very strong argument in this case,” the website quoted Fischetti as saying.

"We will be able to prove that Letitia James can't be an attorney general taking a civil deposition and a district attorney who can use that deposition in a criminal case at the same time.”