Elusive Ivanka Trump tests prosecutors' patience

1. Ivanka Trump is testifying in a New York court as her father battles a civil fraud trial that threatens his vast real estate empire
2. Donald Trump is accused of inflating the value of properties by more than $2bn (£1.65bn) in order to secure favourable loans
3. Ivanka is not a co-defendant, but has been ordered to testify because she has ties to Trump businesses in New York
4. Prosecutors are challenging the 42-year-old on her knowledge of her father's businesses and his real net worth
5. The judge has already ruled Trump significantly inflated the value of his properties - this trial focuses on charges of falsification of business records, insurance fraud and conspiracy
6. A trial defeat could result in a $250m fine, a ban on Trump doing business in his home state, and losing control of iconic properties like Trump Tower
7. Donald Trump and his co-defendant sons, Eric and Don Jr, have denied all accusations

Ivanka Trump finishes testimony

Brandon Livesay

Reporting from New York

Reuters/Jane Rosenberg

If you were expecting a bombshell testimony from Ivanka Trump today, you will be disappointed.

What we did hear was Donald Trump's daughter repeatedly saying she could not recall various business emails that were shown in court.

Ivanka was the final witness called by the prosecution team. Now Donald Trump's legal team will call their own witnesses.

That may include cross examinations of some names we have already heard from in this trial, potentially even Donald Jr and Eric Trump.

Our writers in court today were Chloe Kim, Kayla Epstein and Madeline Halpert.

For a full wrap of what happened today, you can check out this article.

A recap of the day in court

Reuters

It was a long day of testimony from Ivanka Trump. Here's what happened:

• Ivanka remained composed in court, unlike her father and brother's often combative testimonies

• She repeatedly told the court she does not recall, when asked questions about specific documents and emails
• Ivanka spoke at length about several Trump properties, including a redevelopment of the old Post Office in Washington DC
• Donald Trump's legal team cross examined Ivanka, the first witness they have done so with
• Cross examination focused on loans from the Deutsche Bank, and the Trump's relationship with banker Rosemary Vrablic
• The prosecution has finished presenting its case and the defence team will now call its own witnesses

Ivanka Trump finishes testifying

Chloe Kim

Reporting from court

There are no more questions from the defence.

"We're through with this witness," the Judge Engoron says and Ivanka Trump smiles.

She has exited the courtroom.

Judge and Trump lawyer argue

Chloe Kim

Reporting from court

Judge Engoron and defence attorney Chris Kise have just had a back and forth.

It was sparked by an objection from the attorney general's team over the submitting of a document into evidence.

Judge Engoron says Kise has "constant insinuations" that he has being ruling with "double standards".

But Judge Engoron says he simply calls it as he sees it.

Kise responds by saying he too calls it as he sees it, adding that he is seeing rulings frequently going in favour of the prosecution.

We may be seeing tempers being stretched after a long day in court.

Judge checks watch as Ivanka speaks at length about hotel

Chloe Kim

Reporting from court

Ivanka Trump has been going on for a while about the old Post Office property in Washington, DC.

Ivanka says it was a "historically significant", "beautiful building" and she was excited to participate in its renovation.

Ivanka is beaming as she calls it a "labour of love" and describes it as an "incredibly special, iconic building".

Judge Engoron checks his watch at one point, but does not hurry along the testimony.

Who is Rosemary Vrablic?

During this trial - and particularly this cross examination - one name keeps coming up: Rosemary Vrablic.

Vrablic was the Trumps' banker at Deutsche Bank beginning in 2011. At the time, Donald Trump had a reputation for not making good on his loans, but via Vrablic, Deutsche Bank began to lend to him anyway.

The bank gave Trump loans for his Chicago hotel and commercial project, his hotel project in DC, and the Doral golf course in Florida.

Vrablic was a VIP guest at Trump's inauguration in January 2017. But during his presidency, his relationship with the bank came under intense scrutiny.

She resigned from Deutsche Bank in 2020, with the stated reason being retirement. By then, Trump owed the bank $300m (£244m), the New York Times reported.

It appears Trumps' team is trying to put the responsibility for the loans on Vrablic and the bank, and show they were excited to work with the Trumps.

According to Ivanka Trump's testimony, Vrablic was the main point of contact on loans for the Old Post Office hotel project in Washington DC.

"I was constantly being told by Rosemary and her team how much they appreciated the relationship," Ivanka just told her father's attorney, Jesus Suarez, during the cross examination.

What was Ivanka’s role in the Trump Organization?

Getty Images

Like her brothers, Ivanka Trump once was intimately involved in the Trump Organization as an executive vice president.

Don Jr and Eric Trump testified last week that all three siblings held similar top level roles at the company.

During her several years there, she was head of development and acquisitions and worked on financing for several deals, including both Florida and Chicago Trump properties.

When Donald Trump became US president, Ivanka left the family business to work in the White House.

She has since distanced herself from both politics and the Trump Organization.

Cross examination starts with Deutsche Bank questions

Kayla Epstein

in the courtroom

Donald Trump's defence attorney Jesus Suarez is handling the cross examination now.

He opens by questioning Ivanka Trump about the company's relationship with Deutsche Bank, particularly Rosemary Vrablic, who ran the bank's private wealth management department and was the family's banker there.

As we learned this morning, Deutsche Bank gave the Trumps loans for some of their major projects.

"I was constantly being told by Rosemary and her team how much they appreciated the relationship," Ivanka Trump said.

Ivanka is the first member of the Trump family to be cross examined

Chloe Kim

Reporting from court

Ivanka Trump is the first member of the Trump family to be cross examined by the defence team - though Eric and Don Jr are on the defence team's witness list.

Off the bat, Ivanka Trump is asked in a variety of ways if she had any involvement with helping or signing off on financial statements - the judge suggests they should move on.

Christopher Kise says the defence is getting unfair treatment and are being hurried along already when the prosecution has had ample time for questions.

Prosecution wraps up questioning Ivanka

Chloe Kim

Reporting from court

The prosecution tells the judge they have nothing further.

The defence will now begin their cross examination of Ivanka Trump.

Attention turns to DC hotel project

Kayla Epstein

Reporting from court

Getty Images

Donald Trump (C) and his family (L-R) Donald Jr, Eric, Tiffany, Melania and Ivanka Trump cut the ribbon at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC in 2016.

They're now digging into documents related to the Trump's development of the historic Old Post Office building in Washington, DC. It was turned into a hotel.

The prosecutor leads Ivanka Trump through documents stating the terms of the loan.

Under questioning, Ivanka confirms her father guaranteed the loan.

Ivanka called back to the stand

Chloe Kim

Reporting from court

Like this morning, there is a long pause between the prosecution calling Ivanka Trump to the witness stand, and her arriving to the courtroom.

She has just returned.

Court is back in session

Kayla Epstein

Reporting from court

We're back from our afternoon break.

Ivanka Trump has not been called back yet. First, Judge Engoron is considering whether an email between Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, is covered by spousal privilege.

He's letting prosecutors and defence make their case.

Ivanka a 'sharp contrast' to father

Bernd Debusmann Jr

US Reporter

Reuters/Jane Rosenberg

Ivanka Trump’s testimony and demeanour were a “sharp contrast” to that of her father earlier this week, according to University of Richmond law professor Carl Tobias.

“She is not jousting with Judge Engoron or the Attorney General’s Counsel, not making political statements and is respectfully addressing the judge and counsel, and is speaking in complete sentences,” Tobias said.

Tobias added that saying in her testimony that she could not remember “numerous” details of business deals - despite very detailed questioning - could ultimately help the defendants in their case.

“The attorney general’s counsel was able to introduce some documents that appeared helpful to their case, but counsel did not seem to elicit much information from Ms Trump’s testimony that was very damaging to Mr Trump.”

Why Ivanka's 'I don't recall' tactic isn't unusual

Kayla Epstein

in the courtroom

Over and over again, Ivanka Trump has employed a three-word phrase. "I don't recall."

"This is not unusual for an adverse witness," says Mitchell Epner, an attorney who handles commercial litigation and white collar criminal matters.

"I do not know whether Ms Trump actually does not remember or is feigning not to remember, but it is typical," he told us over email.

"An adverse witness will not read documents or take other steps in advance of testimony to refresh her recollection."

"This is usually not a problem for the opposing attorney," he continued. "If the witness claims not to remember a document, she is not in a position to contradict or explain away the document."

Insight into the attorney general's strategy

Kayla Epstein

Reporting from court

We're at halftime, so we've asked Mitchell Epner, an attorney who works on commercial litigation and white collar criminal issues, what he made of the day so far.

To him, it appeared the attorney general's strategy "is to use Ms Trump to introduce very damning documents... and have her either say she does not recall them or give additional problematic testimony".

He cited the documents prosecutors presented, including one email where a Trump Organization employee believed Deutsche Bank’s proposed requirement that Trump maintain a $3bn net worth was a "problem".

That would mean "that the statement of financial condition was known to be important and not just considered 'worthless', as Donald Trump testified" earlier this week, Epner explained.

WATCH: Donald Trump and Ivanka's relationship over the years

Donald and Ivanka Trump over the years... in 90 seconds

Despite being shown evidence, Ivanka 'can't recall'

Nada Tawfik

Reporting from court

'I don't recall', a common refrain in Ivanka's testimony

Ivanka Trump, through her demeanour, is trying hard to look like a cooperative witness.

She’s smiling brightly, being courteous to the judge and court staff, and answering questions in an even tone.

At one point early in questioning, she joked that she couldn’t remember a call because it happened when she was nine months pregnant with her first child - more than 12 years ago.

But for such a high-ranking executive, her sudden amnesia on the stand is coming off as a calculated attempt to not give prosecutors any more ammunition.

Even when she’s presented with evidence, she says it doesn’t refresh her memory.

This is visibly frustrating prosecutors.

Court is breaking

Chloe Kim

Reporting from court

The court is taking a lunch break till 14:15 local time (19:15 GMT).

Stay with us as we continue to bring you analysis and updates.

Prosecution is angry at Ivanka's lack of recollection

Kayla Epstein

Reporting from court

There's just been a bit of an awkward moment here in court, between Donald Trump's lawyer Chris Kise, prosecutor Lou Solomon, and Judge Engoron.

Solomon says he's getting agitated that Ivanka Trump can't seem to “recall” anything specific he asks about.

He says she can remember facts about Trump properties like his hotels, "but she has not answered one of my questions".

Kise steps in to defend his client's daughter, before the judge eventually says it might not be a good idea to have this conversation in front of the witness, Ivanka.

With that, Solomon continues with his questions.