Indian-American entrepreneur and former US Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has recently found himself in a legal tug-of-war, reminiscent of tactics employed by former President Donald Trump. At a recent campaign event for Trump in Racine, Wisconsin, Ramaswamy announced his intention to avoid testifying in a legal case, citing the demands of his ongoing presidential campaign.
According to a report by DailyMail, Ramaswamy is pushing back against attempts to make him give evidence under oath, arguing that his busy campaign schedule exempts him from this obligation. This move mirrors a previous instance where Trump was excused from a legal proceeding to attend a family event.
In a legal filing dated July 27 in Ohio’s Southern District, Ramaswamy emphasized the relentless nature of his campaign duties, which often keep him away from home or engaged until late at night. He described the deposition request as a “fishing expedition,” a tactic used by former investors in one of his companies to gather evidence for a separate case in Bermuda.
The investors, Alpine Partners, are embroiled in a dispute over a $1.7 billion merger involving Ramaswamy’s company, Myovant Sciences. They allege that they were shortchanged in the deal and are seeking Ramaswamy’s testimony and documents to support their case. Ramaswamy, however, has dismissed these demands, claiming he has no significant information regarding the negotiations and that other executives can provide the necessary details.
Ramaswamy’s legal team contends that the investors’ true aim is to harass him and undermine his presidential campaign. They argue that complying with the subpoena would impose an undue burden on Ramaswamy and impede his ability to run for office. Despite these legal challenges, Ramaswamy is gaining momentum in the polls, posing a significant challenge to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
In response to the ongoing legal battle, Ramaswamy’s campaign spokeswoman reiterated that he had no substantive involvement in the contested transaction and had recused himself from it. She stressed that this issue predated the launch of his presidential campaign and expressed confidence in the legal process to resolve the matter.
