MANHATTAN, NEW YORK CITY: Donald Trump Jr, 45, maintained a jovial demeanor, cracking jokes and staunchly refuting any allegations of wrongdoing during his testimony in a New York City court on November 1 during his father's business fraud trial.
Consequently, Seth Meyers took a closer look at the intricacies of Don Jr's testimony in the Manhattan civil fraud trial, shedding light on a legal battle that looms over the Trump family's entire business empire.
'There's no wriggling your way out of this'
Meyers' 'Closer Look' segement was all about him, the host, exploring the legal woes of Donald Trump Jr in a Manhattan civil fraud trial. Meyers noted that if Donald Trump Jr invoked the Fifth Amendment, it could backfire, and if he testified honestly, it might incriminate himself.
Meyers noted Don Trump Jr's predicament, saying, "There's no wriggling your way out of this one".
"If you take the fifth, the judge could assume the worst, and if you answer the questions honestly, you can incriminate yourself".
He continued, "There's no third option where you answer the questions, lie, and hold up a disclaimer that says....'Don't believe a word I'm saying'".
Meyers then moved on to showcase a news piece from MSNBC that stated Don Trump Jr's fourth option: If witnesses are uncooperative, the attorney may request to treat them as hostile witnesses, allowing for more direct and pointed questioning to extract the desired information.
Right after, the host quipped, "And it doesn't help Don Jr that he already comes off as a hostile witness".
"The man has no chill".
Based on Don Jr's prior deposition, it seems unlikely he'll be cooperative or able to answer numerous questions. In the deposition, he struggled with basic queries about Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
The political background revolving Don Trump Jr
As per BBC, New York Attorney General James is pursuing a $250 million lawsuit against former President Donald Trump, accusing him of exaggerating his net worth for financial advantages from 2011 to 2021.
Trump vehemently denies the allegations, labeling them as politically motivated persecution.
The civil lawsuit involves testimonies from Trump's children, with Trump Jr and Eric listed as defendants. Ivanka, initially involved, was removed due to a statute of limitations.
The trial, not criminal in nature, won't result in jail time. Trump Jr, an executive VP at the Trump Organization, faces examination regarding projects like the West Side Yards and Trump Park Avenue.
