Breaking: Explosive Revelation - Donald Trump and Adult Children Revealed as Key Witnesses in Landmark NY Fraud Case!

Donald Trump, along with his adult children and closest business advisors, may be summoned as witnesses in the upcoming civil fraud trial in New York. Both the New York attorney general and Trump's legal team have included his name in the witness lists.

A doorman stands outside of Trump Tower, in New York, New York, on April 3, 2023.

Stephen Voss for CNN

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Adding someone to a potential list of witnesses does not guarantee their presence in the courtroom. It is crucial for the lawyers representing both parties to consider including any individual they may consider calling as a witness on their respective lists. Failure to do so may result in the judge dismissing their testimony. In a recent development, Trump underwent a deposition for this particular case, where he claimed to have had minimal involvement, if any, in the preparation of the financial statements that were deemed fraudulent by a New York judge earlier this week.

Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, along with several current and former Trump Organization employees including former chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg, are listed as defendants in the case. Additionally, the majority of the witnesses have provided testimony through recorded depositions. It is worth noting that in civil cases, defendants can be summoned to testify, and if they decline, their refusal can be considered by the jury or Judge Arthur Engoron as they assess the evidence.

The New York attorney general's office has identified 28 potential witnesses for the case, which includes individuals like Michael Cohen and Ivanka Trump. Though Ivanka Trump was initially named as a defendant in the lawsuit, a New York appeals court ruled that the claims against her were too old, and she was subsequently removed from the case.

On the other hand, Trump's legal team has identified 127 potential witnesses they may summon for the trial, including some of the lenders involved in the loans under scrutiny.

The trial is set to begin on Monday, with Engoron tasked to determine the amount of money the Trumps will have to pay to the state. This comes after the discovery that the former president and his business committed ongoing fraud by presenting exaggerated financial statements for almost ten years.

Furthermore, the state aims to demonstrate that the Trumps also participated in insurance fraud and manipulated business records. Engoron has allocated a substantial three-month period for the trial.

An appeals court ruling is expected as soon as Thursday that could potentially impact the trial start date.