In a significant development in the civil fraud trial against former President Donald Trump, it has been confirmed that his three children - Donald Trump Jr, Eric Trump, and Ivanka Trump - will all testify in the case. The trial, initiated by New York Attorney General Letitia James, alleges that Trump inflated the value of his properties to obtain favorable loan rates and lower insurance premiums.

Scheduled to take the stand first is Donald Trump Jr, who is set to testify on November 1. Eric Trump will follow on November 2, while Ivanka Trump is expected to be questioned on November 8. The Trump children, who are senior executives of the Trump Organization and named defendants in the case, have consistently denied any wrongdoing.

The case, with a staggering $250 million (£206 million) at stake, will determine the penalties and whether the defendants broke any state laws in New York. Presiding over the proceedings, Judge Arthur Engoron previously ruled that Trump had been regularly dishonest in his financial statements, thereby significantly overinflating his net worth by billions of dollars.

Both Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump have become notable political surrogates for their father, actively contributing to the Trump Organization's operations while he was in office. They hold the titles of executive vice-presidents within their father's company, a position that the prosecution argues implicates their intimate involvement in the organization's financial affairs.

In contrast, Eric Trump has claimed to have no involvement in the valuation of Trump golf courses, stating that his focus is primarily on property operations. However, real estate executive David McArdle, responsible for asset valuations at the Trump Organization, contradicted Eric Trump's statement during his deposition.

The involvement of Ivanka Trump, formerly a defendant in the case, has shifted from being a co-defendant alongside her brothers to becoming a key witness against them. The prosecution alleges that she played a pivotal role as the primary contact and negotiator with Deutsche Bank for three high-profile loans central to the trial. One of the loans in question was obtained for the Old Post Office Building in Washington DC, which operated as the Trump International Hotel during her father's presidency.

Despite objections from Donald Trump's legal team, arguing that Letitia James sought to harass Ivanka Trump, the judge dismissed their concerns and upheld the subpoena requiring her to testify. Her ties to the Trump Organization and ongoing professional and financial connections to the company were cited as key factors.

The trial has also seen Allen Weisselberg, former Chief Financial Officer of the Trump Organization, implicated as a co-defendant. Weisselberg, who has already pleaded guilty to tax crimes, is a significant figure in the case. Additionally, Trump Organization executive Jeff McConney was granted immunity to testify against the Trump family, revealing how he aided company executives in tax evasion and inflated the former president's assets.

Notably, as news of the impending testimonies broke, Donald Trump took to social media, expressing his frustration and labeling the case a "Witch Hunt," while referring to the judge as a "partisan political hack."

The trial now heads into a crucial stage as the Trump children prepare to give their testimony. As it unfolds, the collective evidence presented will determine the outcome and shed light on the alleged fraud and the extent to which the Trump family was involved.