Donald Trump refuses to respond to inquiries in the New York business investigation

On Wednesday, Donald Trump leaves Trump Tower on his way to the New York Attorney General's Office for a deposition in a civil investigation. Image: Julia Nikhinson/AP

Two days after the FBI raided his Florida home in search of classified documents, the ex-president enters a fifth plea.

Donald Trump refused to answer questions under oath in a civil investigation into his business dealings in New York state on Wednesday, pleading the fifth two days after the FBI raided his Florida home in a criminal case, seeking classified documents taken from the White House.

The decision by the former US president to exercise his fifth amendment constitutional right against self-incrimination was made during a closed-door deposition in Manhattan, where the New York state attorney general, Letitia James, is investigating the Trump family's real estate empire.

"I declined to answer the questions in accordance with the rights and privileges guaranteed to every citizen under the United States Constitution," Trump said in a statement as he prepared to appear before James.

The decision by the former US president to exercise his fifth amendment constitutional right against self-incrimination was made during a closed-door deposition in Manhattan, where the New York state attorney general, Letitia James, is investigating the Trump family's real estate empire.

"I declined to answer the questions in accordance with the rights and privileges guaranteed to every citizen under the United States Constitution," Trump said in a statement as he prepared to appear before James.

According to the New York Times, Trump accused Sessions of "openly campaigning on a policy of destroying me."

Beyond that, from 9.30 a.m. to around 3 p.m., Trump had repeatedly said "same answer" to every question about "values and golf clubs and all that stuff," according to Fischetti.

Trump's decision to take the fifth was made shortly before the interview began, according to the attorney. "He absolutely wanted to testify, and it took a lot of convincing from me and others," Fischetti added.

Image: Hugo Lowell /Trump left the deposition in a black SUV.

The high-stakes legal meeting came as senior Republicans pressed the US Department of Justice to reveal details of the federal search at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence and private club in exclusive Palm Beach on Monday.

According to the Guardian, the FBI search was authorized to seek presidential and classified records that the Justice Department believes the one-term former Republican president unlawfully retained after his term in office expired.

However, news of the search sparked outrage among Republican leaders, who demanded that Joe Biden's attorney general, Merrick Garland, explain the department's actions as soon as possible.

On Tuesday, Trump's former vice president, Mike Pence, expressed "deep concern," adding on Twitter: "In American history, no former president of the United States has ever been subjected to a raid on their personal residence."

Mitch McConnell, the Senate minority leader and a Kentucky Republican, demanded a "thorough and immediate explanation."

"Attorney General Garland and the Department of Justice should and must have already provided answers to the American people," McConnell said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg, a Democrat, called the search a "raid," telling MSNBC that it was "a gross exaggeration."

"This was a very orderly, smooth search of a home by plain clothes FBI agents escorted by Secret Service agents," Aronberg said.

According to Politico, Trump's lawyers have a copy of the search warrant and a list of what the FBI seized.

Back in New York, before his deposition on Wednesday, Trump slammed the legal proceedings in a brash post on his Truth Social social media platform, which he used after Twitter banned him.

"I'll be in New York City tonight." I'll be meeting with the racist New York Attorney General tomorrow to continue the greatest Witch Hunt in US history!" Trump wrote, repeating an insult he has previously directed at James, who is Black and the first woman of color to hold statewide office in New York.

"My great company and I are under attack from all sides," Trump wrote, adding, "Banana Republic!"

The case involves allegations that Trump's company, the Trump Organization, overstated the value of assets such as golf courses and skyscrapers, deceiving lenders and tax authorities.

At the heart of the case are allegations that Trump has lied about his fortune for decades in order to gain access to bank loans and minimize his tax obligations. "I look better if I'm worth $10 billion than $4 billion," he once said. He described his business style as "truthful hyperbole" in his book The Art of the Deal.

Image: Letitia James, New York’s attorney general. Iamge Credit: Mike Segar/Reuters

In May, James' office stated that the investigation was nearing completion and that investigators had gathered substantial evidence that could support legal action against Trump, his company, or both. According to the attorney general's office, Trump's deposition is one of the few remaining pieces to be gathered.

Donald Jr. and Ivanka Trump, two of Trump's adult children, are believed to have testified in the investigation in recent days. Trump's testimony was originally scheduled for last month, but it was postponed due to the death of his ex-wife, Ivana Trump, on July 14.

Trump has denied the allegations, stating that obtaining the best valuations is standard practice in the real estate industry.

While James has considered suing Trump or his company, the Manhattan district attorney's office has been conducting a separate, criminal investigation. However, it ran into difficulties after a new district attorney, Alvin Bragg, raised concerns internally about the case's viability, and its lead prosecutors resigned.

Bragg has stated that the investigation is ongoing.

In response to his refusal to answer questions on Wednesday, Trump said, "I once asked, 'If you're innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment?" I now have an answer to that question... You have no choice when your family, your company, and everyone in your orbit have become the targets of an unfounded politically motivated witch hunt supported by lawyers, prosecutors, and the fake news media."

As vehement as Trump has been in defending himself in written statements and on stage at political rallies, legal experts warned that answering questions in a deposition would be dangerous because anything he said could be used against him in Bragg's investigation.

The fifth amendment protects individuals from being forced to testify against themselves in a criminal case.

When the state investigation concludes, James may seek financial penalties against Trump or his company, or even a prohibition on their involvement in certain types of businesses, as happened in a previous legal battle with James in 2019, when the then-president was fined $2 million and barred from running a charity in the future.

Source: The Associated Press contributed reporting.