Trump Org And CFO Weisselberg To Be Charged
Evading multiple accusations of civil and criminal charges during his Presidency, this marks the first criminal charges against Trump’s company since investigations began three years ago
The Manhattan District Attorney’s office is said to charge former US President Donald Trump’s Organization and its Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Allen Weisselberg with tax-related crimes today, on Thursday as per reports by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
However, neither Donald Trump nor his sons Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump who are involved with the organization’s operations are not expected to be indicted. Weisselberg and others charged are expected to appear in court today where the detailed charges will be spelt out.
According to reports, the charges are expected to be about allegedly evading taxes on fringe benefits and perks like cars, apartments, private school tuition received from the Trump organization. This comes after the Manhattan district attorney’s office and the New York state attorney general’s office have been investigating into organization’s employees for illegally avoided paying taxes. The investigation originally looked into the money paid by Trump’s former personal lawyer Michael Cohen to porn star Stormy Daniels and how that was accounted for by the company before the 2016 US Presidential campaign. Then, it has extended to include all allegations made by Cohen about the Trump Organization related to misquoting values of assets to gain from lower tax obligations and receive a favourable loan and insurance terms for the same, leading up to employees receiving perks and failing to meet tax obligations for the same. Cohen pleaded guilty to the charge framed against him in 2018 and is said to be assisting the Manhattan DA’s office.
The Former US President is known to have evaded prior accusations of civil and charges during his Presidency, calling them politically motivated attacks.