MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: Ivanka Trump stirred a new backlash as she took the stand at her father’s ongoing $250m civil fraud trial just to claim “I don't recall” more than 30 times.
The 42-year-old daughter of former president Donald Trump was initially named as a defendant in the fraud case, brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James, who has accused Trump, his two oldest sons, the Trump Organization, and several executives of a years-long fraud scheme.
But, in June, a higher court removed Ivanka from the case on the grounds that she had severed her connections to the Trump Organization at the time of the fraud.
On Wednesday, November 08, she finally took the stand to testify during her direct examination and cross-examination that she wasn't involved and didn't know much about her father's financial statements.
On the stand, she was often evasive in her responses, often declaring, "I don't recall," in response to questions regarding financial paperwork, according to Radar Online.
What did Ivanka Trump say during her testimony?
In sharp contrast to her father's aggressive appearance in the same court on Monday, the 42-year-old was quiet and courteous throughout her testimony, even when the judge cracked a lighthearted joke as she was sworn in.
During the testimony, “I don’t recall” was Ivanka’s strategic mantra that she used to distance herself from questions regarding those statements of financial condition.
She flatly denied recalling any of the emails shown at the trial, which revealed her to have been involved in major transactions involving the financial statements, including those at the company's previous hotel in Washington, DC, and the Trump National Doral resort in Miami.
At one point, Louis Solomon, the attorney general's office representative, questioned Ivanka if she played any role in “preparing Donald J Trump's statements of financial condition?"
To which, she replied "Not that I'm aware of. I didn't know about his personal statements, per se, other than what you've shown me."
She said she couldn't remember the details when asked about the loans the family business took out between 2011 and 2016. "I don't recall, sitting here today, seeing these terms from 2011," she said when she was being asked questions about email exchange involving Inbursa Bank, according to WIO News.
However, the former first lady did admit “shepherding” deals to acquire the Old Post Office in Washington, DC, as well as score bank loans for Trump properties in Chicago and Miami’s suburbs.
Internet reacts to Ivanka Trump’s testimony
Ivanka’s testimony has garnered immense social media attention, with users slamming her for distancing herself from crucial questions by claiming “I don’t recall.”
“Ivanka Trump: I don't remember I don't recall If I was ever born at all,” one user slammed. “Of course she doesn’t recall. When you have that many Fish Tales, it’s hard to keep them straight!” a second user wrote.
“Does she recall what her face look like, you know that when she was born with? Even the face she had when she left the White House, does she remember that look like?” a third user fumed.
“Guess no one was running the companies. No one claims any responsibility,” a fourth user said, while a fifth stated, “No surprise here, like father like daughter ????.”
“Takeaways from Ivanka Trump’s testimony in the New York fraud trial - I DON'T RECALL!” another user said.
“I think Criminals seem to have that Problem. Her Father Had the same answer " I don't Recall " ?❓,” one more wrote.
