Trump Organisation convicted of criminal tax fraud in New York trial
A New York jury finds the Trump Organisation engaged in an off-the-books compensation scheme to pay executives in car leases, apartments and cash.
Former President Donald Trump’s family business was convicted Tuesday of criminal tax fraud, with a New York jury finding the Trump Organization engaged in an off-the-books compensation scheme to pay some executives in car leases, apartments and cash.
The jury found two Trump Organization corporate entities guilty of all criminal counts they faced, including conspiracy, criminal tax fraud and falsifying business records. The two entities could face a total of more than $1.6 million in fines.
The guilty verdict is a blow to Mr. Trump, who, while facing civil lawsuits and criminal investigations, declared his third consecutive presidential bid last month. The conviction and subsequent penalties for his company could compound the weariness from some Republicans who want to move on to other party leadership.
Mr. Trump wasn’t charged in the case, but his presence loomed over the trial. Prosecutors said that Mr. Trump sanctioned the tax-free benefits, and personally signed some checks for private-school tuition for finance chief Allen Weisselberg’s grandchildren. During closing arguments, a defense attorney said Mr. Trump relied on an outside accountant who never told him the perks in question were illegal.
“Mr. Trump and his family are not here on trial before you,” the judge instructed the jury on Monday.
Mr. Trump has railed against the case on his social-media site, calling the charges “a case the likes of which has never been charged or tried in such manner before.” During the trial, which began in late October, jurors heard testimony from Trump Organization employees, a longtime Trump accountant and Mr. Weisselberg, the company’s chief financial officer and star prosecution witness who pleaded guilty to 15 felonies for his role in the scheme.
Under an agreement with prosecutors, Mr. Weisselberg is expected to be sentenced to five months in jail, and likely serve just a portion of that, so long as he testified truthfully at trial.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 19.
The Wall Street Journal
Emaciated and frail, hostages paraded on stage before release
Or Levy, Ohad Ben Ami and Eli Sharabi looked gaunt and tense as they were forced to hold certificates as Hamas militants surrounded them before they were released to safety in Israel.
Trump is unravelling the world order with unprecedented speed
The scope and velocity of Trump’s moves to shrink the US government, pressure allies and reorient the global economy are creating a ripple effect stretching from American main streets across the world.