The process for the Trump Organization’s tax evasionDonald Trump’s family business began Monday in New York with the selection of the jury, a process slowed by the divisive political weight of the former president who is not on trial but could testify.
While not personally targeted, Donald Trump has thundered on his social network Truth Social right from the start, accusing his political opponents, President Joe Biden’s Democrats, of pursuing a two-way “witch hunt”. . weeks of mid-term legislative elections.
According to the TV channels and the Washington Post, press access to the New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan was made difficult by Judge Juan Merchan, who warned the 130 jury candidates that their selection could take a week to fire supporters and opponents of the former Republican president. The process could therefore take a month and a half.
The former CFO pleads guilty
It concerns allegations of irregularity since 2005 in the accounts of the Trump Organization and compensation received by leaders who have been hidden from the tax authorities. Former family group chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg, 75, struck a deal with justice in August and pleaded guilty to 15 counts of tax evasion and fraud related to $ 1.76 million in undeclared income. between 2005 and 2021.
This close friend of Donald Trump, who is therefore not on trial but presents himself as a witness, has admitted that he benefited from undeclared benefits in kind: an apartment in an upscale Manhattan neighborhood, the rental of two Mercedes for him and his wife, or cash for the holidays.
He will be one of the key witnesses in the trial against the company, currently led by two of the former president’s sons – Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump – who own real estate investments, hotels and golf courses. Two subsidiaries were targeted, Trump Corporation and Trump Payroll Corp. Donald Trump himself, his two sons and sister Ivanka could be called as witnesses, according to the judge.
“Taxpayer fraud”
On Truth Social, the Republican billionaire accused the Democratic camp of years of “torturing” and threatening a longtime Trump Organization executive, alluding to his loyal Allen Weisselberg.
“Allen Weisselberg admitted in court that he used his position at the Trump Organization to defraud taxpayers and enrich himself personally,” Manhattan attorney Alvin Bragg said in August, when the former chief financial officer pleaded guilty. “The agreement reached with the justice system directly links the Trump Organization to a wide range of criminal activities,” he added.
Under the settlement, Weisselberg must pay nearly two million dollars in taxes, with penalties and interest, and testify at the trial. He has so far always refused to personally testify against Donald Trump.
The Trump Organization, which has pleaded not guilty, is accused of holding parallel accounts, under Weisselberg’s supervision, to hide the wage supplements he and other leaders have received.
Donald Trump targeted in civilian in New York
If the facts are proven, the company could be fined approximately $ 1.7 million. Donald Trump, who has not officially announced his 2024 presidential candidacy but does not hide his ambitions, is instead personally targeted by the civilian component of this sprawling New York State investigation against the Trump Organization.
These civil proceedings also cover suspicions of tax evasion within the family group and have been conducted vigorously since 2019 by New York State Attorney General, Democrat Letitia James. In September, she announced lawsuits against Donald Trump and his children and is claiming $ 250 million in compensation.
