Status: 02.07.2021 12:23 a.m.
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The New York judiciary has brought charges against the Trump organization. The holding company committed tax fraud. The lawsuit is also directed against the CFO – but so far not against Trump himself.
From Antje-Passenheim,
ARD-Studio New York
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This day is an important landmark, said New York Attorney General Letitia James. The Democrat sat next to District Attorney Cyrus Vance in the courtroom to watch the front row readings.
Antje Passenheim
ARD-Studio New York
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Vance didn’t go to the press. The lawyers of the Trump Organization are different. Alan Futerfas, for example, complained: This is about politics and not law.
There has never been a local law enforcement officer investigating the former President of the United States or his employees. Or his company.
Vance has been investigating the family holding company in Trump’s hometown of New York for over two years. His charge: the company evaded taxes for over 15 years. The allegations include fraud, conspiracy and aggravated theft. In addition, the Trump Organization is said to have falsified balance sheets in order to pay fewer taxes.
At the center of the indictment: Trump’s chief financial officer
Trump dismissed this as the greatest witch hunt of all time. After the indictment, Trump declared: This witch hunt by the “radical left Democrats” is now going on in New York. There Trump’s former CFO and close companion Alan Weisselberg was handcuffed to the gray courthouse in Manhattan.
The 73-year-old is said to have not paid any taxes on income equivalent to 1.4 million euros for a period of 15 years. There is suspicion that he was receiving benefits from the Trump Organization – such as the use of apartments and cars that were not taxed.
The investigators had initially tried in vain to get Weisselberg to make a statement against Trump. He pleaded not guilty and is now at large.
Christiane Meier, ARD New York, on the indictment against the Trump organization
tagesschau24 9:30 p.m., July 1, 2021
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Trump organization attacks prosecutors
The Trump organization accused the prosecutor of wanting to use Weisselberg as a pawn sacrifice. Attempts should be made to leave scorched earth behind and harm the former Republican President. Lawyer Susan Necheles complained: “There won’t be a case like this again: The attorney general and the district attorney work together in their prosecution because they don’t like Donald Trump politically.”
No charges were brought against Trump personally. But this could theoretically happen at a later point in time. The prosecution hopes, according to the Washington Post, that Weisselberg will cooperate with the authorities and testify against Trump in order to improve his own prospects.
District Attorney Vance has won twice in the Supreme Court against Trump: He has successfully sued for access to his tax files.
Trump Organization and CFO charged with alleged tax fraud
Antje Passenheim, ARD New York, July 1st, 2021 11:01 pm
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