Ivanka Trump has appealed a judge's ruling requiring her to testify in her dad's high-profile civil fraud trial.
Her lawyers argue that her testimony is not appropriate because she is not a party to the case, but the judge, Arthur Engoron, has ordered her to testify.
This week, the court heard from Trump's two elder sons Donald Jr. and Eric Trump, who along with their father were named as defendants by Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat.
Ivanka stepped away from the Trump Organization in 2017 to serve as an adviser in her father's administration. She was dropped from the fraud case because her time at the company fell outside the statute of limitations.
Ivanka's lawyers made their appeal Wednesday, arguing the judge has no jurisdiction because Ivanka no longer has ties to New York.
"Ms. Trump is not a party in this action. Nor is Ms. Trump a New York resident,” her lawyers wrote. “It is black-letter law that, given those two facts, Ms. Trump is beyond the jurisdiction of this Court.”
Ivanka Trump's lawyers have accused Letitia James of trying to dragoon Trump's daughter into a media "circus" for political purposes.
Ivanka Trump is scheduled to testify next Wednesday.
Her father is expected to testify on Monday. He has been making appearances in court and capitalizing on the publicity to disparage the case as a political witch hunt.
Judge Engoron has already decided unilaterally that Trump committed fraud by overvaluing his assets.
Trump has argued that there is no victim in the case because the banks were paid back, and they had a duty to scrutinize his financial records anyway.
In court, both his sons have denied responsibility, saying they relied on the due diligence of the organization's accountants. Trump Jr. said his testimony went "really well" as he left court Thursday.
"I think it went really well, if we were actually dealing with logic and reason the way business is conducted,” he said, adding that “unfortunately the AG has brought forth a case that is purely a political persecution.”
President Trump has already been fined $15,000 by the judge, who slapped Trump with a gag order.
Nevertheless, Trump has continued to criticize the judge, accusing him of vindictively targeting his family.
"Engoron is a wacko who is having a great time endlessly sanctioning, fining, & pushing around 'TRUMP,' hurting my very good children, & working to damage & defame me," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
