Depositions of Donald Trump and two of his children delayed after Ivana Trump’s death
Former President Trump and two of his children got their questioning postponed Friday in a New York civil investigation into their business dealings, a delay that follows the death of Trump’s ex-wife Ivana.
The ex-president, son Donald Jr. and daughter Ivanka had been scheduled for depositions starting as soon as Friday. But New York Atty. Gen. Letitia James’ office said it had agreed to postpone them because of Ivana Trump’s death, announced Thursday.
“We offer our condolences to the Trump family,” Delaney Kempner, a spokesperson for the attorney general’s office, said in a statement.
There are no new dates yet for the depositions.
President Biden met with the Saudi royal family in Jidda on Friday, after having said he would marginalize the oil-rich kingdom. He said he confronted Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over the slaying of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
A message was left with the former president’s lawyer. The younger Trumps’ attorney, Alan Futerfas, declined to comment.
Ivana Trump died at her Manhattan home at age 73. She was married to the former president from 1977 to 1992, and they had three children together: Donald Jr., Ivanka and Eric.
The medical examiner’s office hasn’t released a cause of death, though two people familiar with the matter told the Associated Press that police believe it was accidental after she fell down stairs.
James alleges that the ex-president’s company, the Trump Organization, inflated the values of skyscrapers, golf courses and other holdings in order to get loans, insurance and other benefits.
Trump has denied the allegations, saying that it’s common in the real estate industry to seek the best valuations. The Republican has dismissed the investigation as part of a politically motivated “witch hunt” by Democrats such as James.
Trump’s deposition was looming as he lays the groundwork for a likely 2024 White House run but also faces growing scrutiny of his conduct in the 2020 election. There are investigations in Congress into his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection and in Georgia into his efforts to overturn his loss.
Meanwhile, the Manhattan district attorney has been overseeing a criminal inquiry that parallels James’ probe.
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