Former President Trump Set to Face Civil Lawsuit in New York City: Will He Plead the Fifth Again?

Former US President Donald Trump is set to return to New York City to face a civil lawsuit filed by the state’s attorney general, Letitia James. The lawsuit accuses Trump, his children, and the Trump Organization of submitting false financial statements to lenders and others over a decade. Trump is scheduled to sit for another deposition for the case in which he refused to answer over 400 questions in August 2022, citing his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. The trial is scheduled for October, and the Trumps have denied any wrongdoing.

Trump, along with his children and the Trump Organization, are being sued for allegedly providing misleading financial statements to lenders and others for more than ten years.

Depositions Scheduled for Trump’s Civil Lawsuit

Former President Donald Trump is expected to return to New York City on Thursday to take a deposition in a civil lawsuit filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James. According to a report by CNN, Trump, his children, and the Trump Organization are accused of engaging in a scheme to enrich themselves by providing false financial statements to lenders and others over a decade.

Trump testified in the lawsuit last August but refused to answer more than 400 questions, citing his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination. It’s unclear whether Trump is more inclined to comply now, and his lawyers have yet to reply to demands for comment.

As part of the discovery process, a deposition has been planned for this week. In a civil case, if a defendant asserts the Fifth Amendment, the jury can make an “adverse inference” and place weight against the defendant for refusing to answer questions.

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Potential Consequences of Asserting the Fifth Amendment

If Trump pleads the Fifth during the deposition, it may hurt him in the trial, as the jury may view it negatively. Trump’s lawyers advised him to plead the Fifth last year due to the risk posed by ongoing investigations.

However, Trump’s legal team has changed since then, and Ronald Fischetti, who represented Trump in the matter last fall, advised him to not answer questions during the last deposition.

Trump’s trip to New York comes after he was arraigned and pleaded not guilty to 34 charges of falsifying business records following an investigation into hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels, which led to an unprecedented indictment obtained by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office last month.

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