Why Donald Trump is 'Spun Up' Over Ivanka Testimony, Ex-Prosecutor

As Donald Trump prepares for a week of testimony from three of his children in his New York business fraud case, he appears "spun up" about his eldest daughter, Ivanka Trump, taking the witness stand, according to former federal prosecutor Joyce Vance.

The former president is facing a $250 million lawsuit filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James, who accuses Trump, his two eldest sons, Eric and Donald Trump Jr., and others attached to the Trump Organization of misrepresenting business assets for financial gains.

Prosecutors are expecting to call Donald Trump Jr. to the stand on Wednesday as James' office reaches its final group of witnesses, followed by Eric Trump on Thursday. Ivanka Trump, who was removed as a defendant in the civil case, will be the last witness called on Friday ahead of the former president's testimony next week.

Vance, a legal analyst and former U.S. attorney for the northern district of Alabama, noted on her Civil Discourse blog on Substack Sunday that Trump appears to be "especially spun up" about Ivanka Trump's upcoming testimony. New York Judge Arthur Engoron dismissed a motion by Ivanka Trump's attorneys last week asking to quash the subpoena for her testimony, arguing that she shouldn't have to testify because she was no longer a part of the case.

"Trump is especially spun up about Ivanka testifying, saying it was unfair of the Judge to force her to testify, since she's been dismissed as a defendant in the case," Vance wrote. "He conveniently overlooks the fact that most witnesses in a case aren't plaintiffs or defendants."

"In Ivanka's case, she's a fact witness who was around for many of the transactions and meetings that are called into question in the Attorney General's $250 million lawsuit," the former prosecutor continued. "Who better to testify than someone with first hand knowledge?"

Ivanka Trump left the Trump Organization in 2017, putting her outside the statute of limitations for the claims brought against her by James. But she and husband Jared Kushner served as advisers during the Trump Administration, and Ivanka previously held the title of executive vice president at the Trump Organization.

Donald Trump has denied any wrongdoing in the fraud case against him, and has called James' suit a part of the "witch hunt" to upset his 2024 reelection bid. He has also bashed James for including his children in the trial.

Newsweek reached out to Trump's press team via email for comment.

Vance previously wrote on her Substack blog that Ivanka Trump's testimony should terrify her father, noting that Ivanka "may well have to choose between Daddy and perjury" while on the witness stand.

Ex-Trump White House Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Matthews said on MSNBC Sunday that she expects Ivanka to "be careful with her words and try to protect her family" during her testimony, but noted that Ivanka and her husband were "always concerned with their own reputations first" even while working in the Trump Administration.

"They were always trying to make themselves look good in the media and I think that she is going to be very concerned with how she is coming across with her testimony and be very guarded," Matthews added. "So that's probably going to be a bigger factor than trying to protect her family."