Politics
Trump Organization may face criminal charges in NYC but his lawyers dismiss claims as ‘completely outrageous’
DONALD Trump’s company could face criminal charges as soon as next week over benefits paid to executives – a move slammed as “outrageous” by the organization’s lawyer.
The former president’s business is under scrutiny for perks it gave top staff, such as use of apartments, cars and school tuition.
Charges could be filed against the Trump Organization as early as next week[/caption]
The charges are said to be related to fringe benefits the company gave to top executives, such as use of apartments, cars and school tuition[/caption]
Trump Organization lawyer Ron Fischetti told NBC: “It looks like they are going to come down with charges against the company and that is completely outrageous.”
Fischetti said he met virtually with prosecutors for around nine minutes on Thursday to discuss the case.
He added: “In my more than 50 years of practice, never before have I seen a district attorney’s office target a company over employee compensation or fringe benefits. It’s ridiculous and outrageous.
“The corporate office will plead not guilty and we will make an immediate motion to dismiss the case against the corporation.”
Trump, left, his chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg, center, and his son Donald Trump Jr., right[/caption]
The charges stem from a long-running investigation into Trump’s business dealings. No charges have been filed so far.
Prosecutors have been scrutinizing Trump’s tax records, subpoenaing documents and interviewing Trump insiders and company executives.
Law enforcement officials familiar with the matter say the investigation has reached a critical point with a grand jury selected to weigh evidence.
New York Attorney General Letitia James has said she is assigning two of her lawyers to work with New York District Attorney Cyrus Vance on the criminal probe while she continues a civil investigation of Trump.
The Manhattan district attorney’s office declined to comment following The New York Times report on the matter.
Vance’s investigation concerns a variety of matters, such as alleged hush-money payments paid to women on Trump’s behalf, property valuations and employee compensation.
The investigation also includes scrutiny of Trump’s relationship with his lenders, a land donation he made to qualify for an income tax deduction, and tax write-offs his company claimed on millions of dollars in consulting fees it paid.
No charges have been filed thus far in the long-running probe[/caption]
The district attorney appears to be targeting Allen Weisselberg, the chief financial officer of the Trump Organization.
This includes his personal finances and benefits given to his son Barry who long worked for the organization, according to the New York Times.
It was reported in The Wall Street Journal that the Manhattan District Attorney’s office had filed a subpoena against Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School over $500,000 in fees for Weisselberg’s grandchildren.
It’s claimed the payments were made between 2012 and 2019 and checks were signed either by Weisselberg or Trump.
Trump has already called Vance’s investigation a politically motivated “witch hunt.”
His niece Mary Trump said earlier this month that her famous uncle “would fully expect” his five kids “to take a hit for him” but “would never do anything to protect them if it were at his expense”.
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Weisselberg has not been accused or charged with any crime and Trump has denied all allegations of wrongdoing.
The DA’s probe began after Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen paid hush money to silence two women, including porn star Stormy Daniels, before the 2016 election about alleged sexual encounters with Trump.
Cohen started working for the Trump Organization in 2006, and in 2018 he was sentenced to three years for his involvement in assisting tax evasion and campaign finance fraud. He was released last April.
