Donald Trump's sons show defiance during the New York fraud trial, attempting to shift responsibility onto accountants

Donald Trump's two eldest sons, Eric and Donald Jr, recently testified in a civil fraud trial that could have consequences for the family's property business. Prosecutors allege that the brothers played significant roles in inflating the Trump Organization's wealth and manipulating records. However, during their court appearances, the Trump brothers denied any wrongdoing and tried to shift the blame onto the company's accountants. Their sister, Ivanka, is also expected to testify later this month. The judge in the case has already stated that the Trump Organization engaged in massive fraud. The trial will ultimately determine the appropriate civil penalty, with New York Attorney General Letitia James seeking a $250 million fine and a ban on Donald Trump and his adult sons conducting business in the state. During Eric and Donald Jr's testimonies, they both distanced themselves from the financial documents under scrutiny, claiming that the responsibility fell on the company's accountants and other employees. They also repeatedly denied working on the statements or having knowledge of how they were prepared. A point of contention arose when Eric Trump seemed to contradict his previous statements by agreeing to provide information for a property-related financial statement. However, he maintained that he was not directly involved in its preparation. Tensions also rose between the judge and the Trump family's attorneys over a reference made to a female law clerk. The judge threatened to expand the gag order imposed on Donald Trump to include the family's attorneys but faced backlash from the attorneys who felt he was biased against them. Former President Donald Trump is expected to testify in the coming week, and his daughter Ivanka is set to follow on November 8. While Ivanka initially appealed against the order to testify, stating that she had not lived or worked in New York since 2017, she is now expected to comply. Donald Trump and his sons have consistently denied any wrongdoing, with the former president calling the judge a "disgrace to the legal profession." The trial outcome will have significant implications for the Trump Organization's future.