Donald Trump take the Fifth

Donald Trump

He was to be deposed by lawyers from Attorney General Letitia James’ office as part of a civil investigation into whether or not the Trump Organization misled lenders, insurers and tax authorities by giving them misleading financial statements.

“Under the advice of my counsel and for all of the above reasons, I declined to answer the questions under the rights and privileges afforded to every citizen under the United States Constitution,” Mr Trump said in a statement.

On Truth Social, Mr Trump’s own social media platform, he said he would not see Ms 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!”

On Monday, the FBI searched the former president’s Mar-a-Lago home in Florida over an investigation into the handling of classified documents. On Tuesday, a federal appeals court put an end to his efforts to prevent a House committee from obtaining his tax returns.

While campaigning in 2016, Mr Trump suggested that not answering questions indicated guilt. He said in Iowa that year: “If you’re innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment?”

In his statement released yesterday, he said: “Now I know the answer to that question”.

“When your family, your company, and all the people in your orbit have become the targets of an unfounded, politically motivated Witch Hunt supported by lawyers, prosecutors, and the Fake News Media, you have no choice,” he stated.

The Fifth Amendment provides that an individual cannot be forced by the government to provide information that may incriminate them.