A federal judge on Thursday rejected Donald Trump’s attempt to quash subpoenas issued by New York Attorney General Letitia James, ruling that the former president and his three adult children must testify, according to CNN.
According to the news network, New York Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron ruled that the New York AG’s office has the right to compel Trump and his children to testify in a court of law and gave Trump 21 days to do so.
“In the final analysis, a State Attorney General commences investigating a business entity, uncovers copious evidence of possible financial fraud, and wants to question, under oath, several of the entities’ principals, including its namesake,” Engoron wrote, CNN reported. “She has the clear right to do so,” he ruled.
Engoron issued his ruling after a contentious two-hour hearing over the matter. On several occasions throughout the hearing, the judge slapped down the Trumps’ arguments that sitting for testimony in the civil investigation would undermine their constitutional rights, CNN reported.
The former president and his children were seeking to quash the subpoenas from Attorney General Letitia James, while she was asking the court to order them to comply.