Donald Trump declines to answer questions in New York probe into his family business
- Former US president said he invoked the Constitution’s Fifth Amendment that offers citizens protection against self-incrimination
- The New York state attorney general is looking into whether the Trump Organization understated real estate values to get tax breaks
“I declined to answer the questions under the rights and privileges afforded to every citizen under the United States Constitution,” Trump said in a statement.
The Constitution’s Fifth Amendment offers protection against self-incrimination.
New York State Attorney General Letitia James is looking into whether the Trump Organization inflated real estate values. Trump and two of his adult children, Donald Trump Jnr and Ivanka Trump, fought to avoid testifying but lost.
James has said her investigation uncovered significant evidence that the Trump Organization, which manages hotels, golf courses and other real estate, overstated asset values to obtain favourable loans and understated the values to get tax breaks.
Trump, a Republican, has denied wrongdoing and called the New York investigation politically motivated. James is a Democrat.