Full Breakdown
Former President Donald Trump Deposes in New York Attorney General’s Civil Probe
8/22/2026, 9:23:27 PM
Core Event
Former President Donald Trump appeared before lawyers from New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office for a four-hour deposition on Wednesday. The session focused on the Trump Organization’s business practices, including valuations of assets, mortgage details, and the size of Trump’s Manhattan apartment. Apart from confirming his name, Trump invoked the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination on every substantive question, a tactic his attorney Ron Fischetti said was employed more than 440 times.
Background of the Investigation
The investigation follows an FBI search of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence, which prosecutors linked to classified material taken from the White House in January 2021.
Deposition Details and Fifth Amendment Invocations
During the deposition, New York Attorney General Letitia James was present for roughly two hours, while senior AG staffer Kevin Wallace conducted the questioning. Trump’s attorneys Ron Fischetti and Alina Habba accompanied him. In addition to Trump, his two eldest children—Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump—have already testified in the civil probe; neither invoked the Fifth Amendment. Commercial real-estate firm Cushman & Wakefield supplied nearly 36,000 documents to the AG’s office earlier in the week.
Official Statements & Responses
The AG’s spokesperson confirmed that the deposition took place and that Trump invoked his Fifth Amendment rights, but declined to comment on the number of invocations.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I once asked, 'If you’re innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment?'” — Donald Trump, former president — Donald Trump, former president.
