NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump is expected to visit the New York attorney general’s office Thursday for a second deposition in a legal battle over the company’s business practices.
Republicans are scheduled to meet with attorneys for Attorney General Letitia James, who prosecuted Trump last year. Her lawsuit alleges Trump and his family misled banks and business associates by providing false information about their net worth and the value of assets such as hotels and golf courses.
The lawsuit is unrelated to the felony charges filed against Trump by the Manhattan district attorney, which led last week to the historic arraignment, the first for a former president.
Trump and his lawyers say the Democrats’ lawsuit against him is politically motivated and baseless. He and his company denied doing anything wrong. James declined to answer questions about his planned deposition at a press conference on unrelated matters Wednesday.
Trump previously met with James’ lawyer on August 10, but refused to answer all but a few procedural questions, invoking the Fifth Amendment’s protection against self-incrimination more than 400 times.
“Anybody in my position who doesn’t take the Fifth Amendment would be an idiot, an absolute idiot,” he said in the session, which was recorded on video and later released publicly. Trump predicted “renegade” prosecutors will try to make a criminal case out of his answers, if he gives them.
“One of the statements or answers that are a little far, just a little bit, by accident, by accident, such as a sunny, beautiful day, when it is really a little cloudy, will be found by law enforcement at a rare level. seen in this country, because I’ve been through it,” he said.
A trial for the lawsuit is scheduled for October.
It’s unclear whether Trump will be able to answer questions at the second deposition, which will be held in person if things go as planned.