Former President Donald Trump is expected to be deposed by lawyers from New York Attorney General Letitia James' office Wednesday, people familiar with the matter tell CNN, pitting the two adversaries against each other after a more than three-year civil investigation into the Trump Organization's finances.
It is unclear whether Trump will answer questions or assert his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination during the behind-closed-doors testimony .Trump said in a post on Truth Social early Wednesday morning that he would be "seeing" James "for a continuation of the greatest Witch Hunt in U.S. history! My great company, and myself, are being attacked from all sides. Banana Republic!"
The deposition comes during an extraordinary legal week for the former President. On Monday, the FBI executed a search warrant at Mar-a-Lago, his primary residence in Florida, in connection with an investigation into the handling of classified documents. On Tuesday, a federal appeals court denied his long-running effort to block a House committee from obtaining his tax returns.
Some Trump advisers have advocated that the former President answer questions since he previously testified about his financial statements under oath, while others have warned him against providing any answers because of the potential legal jeopardy he may face, people familiar with the matter tell CNN. The Manhattan district attorney has a separate ongoing criminal investigation into the Trump Organization.
Another consideration that has been discussed, the people familiar say, is the political implications of not answering questions as Trump is widely expected to announce that he will run for president in 2024. While campaigning in 2016, Trump suggested not answering questions was a sign of guilt. At a campaign stop in Iowa in 2016, Trump said, "If you're innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment?"