Select Page

Tax crime charges against the former President’s namesake company and its chief financial officer have been unsealed

Tax crime charges against the former President’s namesake company and its chief financial officer have been unsealed
4 min ago

Trump Org and chief financial officer plead not guilty to charges

From CNN’s Sonia Moghe

Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Trump Organization and Trump Payroll Corporation also pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors said that Weisselberg attempted to conceal his participation in the scheme with the knowledge of the company. 

“Even now there’s been no attempt to impose discipline on members of the company,” Manhattan prosecutor Carey Dunne said. “There is no clearer example of a company that should be held (responsible). “Prosecutors asked for Weisselberg’s passport to be taken, believe he is a flight risk, saying he has been and will remain CFO of this international company. There is “ample record of travel by private jet, ample means to support himself out of our jurisdiction.”

More on the charges: The indictment charges the Trump Organization, Trump Payroll Corporation and Weisselberg. Prosecutors in court described a 15-year tax scheme and said the charges include 15 felony counts, including a scheme to defraud, conspiracy, grand larceny and falsifying business records. 

14 min ago

Prosecutors allege 15-year tax scheme, charges include 15 felony counts against Trump Org

From CNN’s Sonia Moghe and Erica Orden

The indictment charges the Trump Organization, Trump Payroll Corporation the company’s chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg.

Prosecutors in court described a 15-year tax scheme and said the charges include 15 felony counts, including a scheme to defraud, conspiracy, grand larceny and falsifying business records. 

Prosecutors allege Weisselberg evaded taxes on $1.7 million of income.

Prosecutors say they have digital drives with grand jury testimony, bookkeeping records, tax records, statements of potential witnesses.

1 min ago

NOW: Arraignment for Trump Org and company CFO underway

Arraignment for the Trump Organization and the company’s chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg is now underway in a Manhattan state court.

2 min ago

Trump Org CFO Allen Weisselberg arrives to court in handcuffs

From CNN’s Kara Scannell and Sonia Moghe inside the court

CNN
CNN

Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg arrived to court with hands cuffed behind his back Thursday afternoon in anticipation of his court appearance.

Once inside, a court officer removed his handcuffs.

Earlier, Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance and New York Attorney General Letitia James entered the courtroom.

Weisselberg’s lawyers Bryan Skarlatos and Mary Mulligan also are present.

Alan Futerfas and another lawyer earlier arrived, for the Trump Organization. 

Mark Pomerantz, Carey Dunne, Christopher Conroy and at least four other prosecutors arrived in the courtroom earlier Thursday.

Weisselberg surrendered to the Manhattan district attorney’s office this morning ahead of expected criminal charges against him and the company in connection with alleged tax crimes, his attorney told CNN. 

Weisselberg’s attorneys said he plans to plead not guilty and “will fight these charges in court.”

Watch the moment:

41 min ago

Attorneys for Trump Org and Allen Weisselberg arrive for arraignment

From CNN’s Kara Scannell

Trump Organization attorneys Alan Futerfas and another lawyer just arrived for the arraignment, followed by lawyers for the company’s chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg.

Indictments are expected to be unsealed shortly, two sources familiar with the matter tell CNN. 

Weisselberg surrendered to the Manhattan district attorney’s office this morning ahead of expected criminal charges against him and the company in connection with alleged tax crimes, his attorney told CNN. 

47 min ago

Prosecutors from Manhattan DA’s office arrive for Trump Organization arraignments

From CNN’s Kara Scannell

Prosecutors from the Manhattan DA’s office – including Mark Pomerantz, Carey Dunne, Christopher Conroy and at least four other prosecutors – just arrived in the courtroom for the arraignment of the Trump Organization and the company’s Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg.

1 hr 9 min ago

SOON: Charges to be revealed against Trump Org and company’s chief financial officer

From CNN’s Kara Scannell

Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Indictments charging the Trump Organization and its chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, are expected to be unsealed around 2 p.m. ET, two sources familiar with the matter tell CNN. 

Weisselberg surrendered to the Manhattan district attorney’s office this morning ahead of expected criminal charges against him and the company in connection with alleged tax crimes, his attorney tells CNN. 

Weisselberg is set to be arraigned later Thursday at a lower Manhattan courthouse.

Though former President Trump faced multiple federal and state prosecutorial inquiries during his administration, the district attorney’s indictment would be the first to charge his namesake company, the Trump Organization, for conduct that occurred when he led it.  

Trump himself is not expected to be charged, his attorney has said. 

Read more about the investigation here.

3 hr 17 min ago

These are some of the key players in the Trump Org investigation you may hear a lot about today  

From CNN’s Alyssa Kraus, Erica Orden and Kara Scannell

The Manhattan district attorney’s office is expected to charge the Trump Organization and its chief financial officer with tax crimes in connection with an array of perks and benefits awarded to employees.

Though former President Trump has faced multiple federal and state prosecutorial inquiries during his administration, the district attorney’s indictment would be the first to charge his namesake company, the Trump Organization, for conduct that occurred when he led it.

Here are some of the key players in the case:

  • Allen Weisselberg: Weisselberg, the chief financial officer for the Trump Organization, surrendered to the district attorney’s office this morning ahead of expected criminal charges against him and the company in connection with alleged tax crimes, his attorney told CNN. Investigators have zeroed in on Weisselberg in an effort to gain his cooperation, but his lawyers recently informed prosecutors that he would not cooperate. An indictment against him would likely significantly increase the pressure on him to comply with prosecutors’ demands. Investigators’ scrutiny of Weisselberg began late last year, as prosecutors gathered evidence on him with the assistance of his former daughter-in-law. Weisselberg has worked for Trump since 1973.
Allen Weisselberg, chief financial officer for the Trump Organization, in New York on May 31, 2016.
Allen Weisselberg, chief financial officer for the Trump Organization, in New York on May 31, 2016. Carlo Allegri/Reuters
  • Cyrus Vance Jr.: Vance Jr., the Manhattan district attorney, is leading the indictment of the Trump Organization, as it was his probe that questioned the accounting practices tied to hush-money payments made by former President Trump’s lawyer Michael Cohen. Vance Jr.’s probe eventually led to a Supreme Court fight over a subpoena for Trump’s tax documents. Vance Jr. announced earlier this year that he would not be seeking reelection. The winner of the Manhattan DA Democratic primary is poised to take over the Trump investigation.
Manhattan district attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr. arrives at the New York State Supreme Court on July 1, 2021.
Manhattan district attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr. arrives at the New York State Supreme Court on July 1, 2021. John Minchillo/AP
  • Letitia James: New York State Attorney General Letitia James is working with Vance Jr. to investigate the Trump Organization. For the past two years, James’ office looked into matters – including whether or not the company improperly inflated assets on financial statements to secure loans and obtain economic and tax benefits – as well as how Trump Organization employees were compensated.
  • Barry Weisselberg: Allen Weisselberg’s son, Barry Weisselberg, received thousands of dollars in payments for cars, rent, tuition, medical bills and more, from his father, according to documents from his divorce with Jennifer Weisselberg in 2018. In addition, Barry Weisselberg worked for the Trump Organization for more than a decade and was involved in managing two skating rinks and a carousel in New York’s Central Park.
  • Jennifer Weisselberg: The former daughter-in-law of Allen Weisselberg, Jennifer Weisselberg assisted prosecutors with gathering evidence after her divorce from Barry Weisselberg. She has turned over boxes of financial records and has met with investigators multiple times, her lawyer Duncan Levin told CNN. According to Jennifer Weisselberg, she and her ex-husband lived in apartments rent-free.
Jennifer Weisselberg, the former daughter-in-law of Allen Weisselberg, on July 1, 2021.
Jennifer Weisselberg, the former daughter-in-law of Allen Weisselberg, on July 1, 2021. CNN
  • Matthew Calamari and his son Matthew Calamari Jr.: Two individuals under scrutiny for receiving subsidized rent and company cars are Matthew Calamari, Trump’s one-time security guard and chief operating officer, and his son, Matthew Calamari Jr. However, the investigation into the two men is not as advanced as the investigation of Allen Weisselberg.
  • Mary Mulligan: Mulligan is the attorney for chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg. She recently issued a statement saying her client “will fight these charges in court.”

Read more about the investigation here.

5 hr 20 min ago

White House points to Biden’s tax proposals when asked about expected Trump Org indictment

From CNN’s Kevin Liptak

White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre speaks during a briefing in Washington, DC, on May 26, 2021.
White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre speaks during a briefing in Washington, DC, on May 26, 2021. Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images

The White House is pointing to President Biden’s tax proposals that would raise rates on high earners when asked Thursday about the pending indictment of Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg.

Without commenting on the specific case, White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden believes wealthy Americans should pay more.

“He truly believes, as we look at his economic policies, everyone should pay their fair share, especially the wealthiest among us,” she told reporters aboard Air Force One.

She said she wasn’t commenting specifically on the Trump Organization case.

Source: http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/cnn_topstories/~3/p73AmsXdcJU/index.html

Rate: