Why Donald Trump’s children will testify in his civil fraud trial

BBC News:

Former President Donald Trump’s eldest son will be the first to take the stand in a civil fraud trial in New York that could severely restrict the family’s business activities in the state.

Donald Trump Jr, Eric Trump, and their sister Ivanka Trump are all expected to testify.

Mr Trump’s sons, who are senior Trump Organization executives and co-defendants in the case, are accused of falsification of business records, insurance fraud and conspiracy, among other claims.

Both deny any wrongdoing.

The $250m (£206m) fraud trial brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James accuses the former president of inflating the value of his properties.

Judge Arthur Engoron, who is overseeing the case, previously ruled that Mr Trump regularly lied on his financial statements and exaggerated his net worth by billions of dollars. The overvaluation allowed Mr Trump to obtain favourable loan rates and lower insurance premiums, the judge’s ruling said.

The current case will decide penalties and whether the defendants broke any state laws in New York.