New York - Ivanka Trump, daughter of former President Donald Trump, has requested a pause in the ongoing $250 million fraud trial involving her family's business empire. Ivanka, who is not a defendant in the case, is appealing a judge's order for her to testify in the trial. Her attorney argued that testifying during the "school week" would create a significant "undue hardship" for her.

The request to halt the entire trial was made in a court filing on Thursday. Ivanka's attorney firmly stated that his client would face unnecessary difficulties if compelled to give testimony, particularly due to her scheduled appearances "in the middle of a school week." This comes as Ivanka appeals Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron's order, which rejected her previous request to avoid taking the witness stand.

Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, Ivanka's adult brothers, have already testified in the trial this week. Meanwhile, the former President himself is set to be called as a witness. All three siblings are named as co-defendants in the case filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James. The lawsuit alleges a decade-long scheme to inflate Donald Trump Sr.'s net worth, leading to multiple financial perks, including tax benefits and improved loan terms.

It is worth noting that Ivanka Trump was initially listed as a co-defendant but was removed from the case earlier this year by a New York appeals court, citing the statute of limitations. The lawsuit describes Ivanka as an executive vice president for development and acquisitions at the Trump Organization until she became a senior advisor to her father at the White House in January 2017. After Donald Trump became president, Eric and Donald Jr. assumed control of the Trump Organization.

In response to Ivanka's request, New York Attorney General Letitia James called it a "drastic" and baseless move that would disrupt the ongoing trial. James urged the appeals court to reject the request, highlighting that Ivanka still conducts business in New York and owns property in the state. James emphasized that Ivanka possesses firsthand knowledge that is crucial to the trial's proceedings.

The appeals court will now consider whether to grant Ivanka's request for a temporary stay in her testimony while her appeal is pending. Nevertheless, James argued that allowing the delay could potentially hinder the fair and orderly resolution of a trial that has been ongoing for almost a month.

The trial will continue as the legal battle unfolds, with the focus shifting to Ivanka Trump and her forthcoming appearance in court.