New York | The Trump Organization was found guilty of financial and tax fraud

(New York) Donald Trump’s family business, the Trump Organization, is not investigating the former Republican president after a hearing in New York on Tuesday accused him of financial and tax fraud.

Andrea Bambino

French media agency

Manhattan attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement that it was the first time the family group of an American billionaire, which includes golf clubs, luxury hotels and real estate properties, has been convicted.

Although he was not prosecuted personally, the sanction imposed by the committee, a fine of $1.5 million, if relatively small compared to its size, is a legal setback for the former president (2017-2021), now officially a candidate for the 2024 Republican nomination.

Donald Trump enters the race in a worse-than-expected position, weakened by the disappointing results of the Republicans he supported in the midterm elections, while one of his potential rivals, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, won again.

A Manhattan jury retired on Monday after more than a month of deliberations found “the Trump Corporation and the Trump Payroll Corporation guilty on all counts,” 17 in all, said attorney Alvin Brock, a Democrat-elect.

His services added that the sentence is expected to be delivered on January 13, 2023.

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Both companies were investigated for tax evasion and falsification of accounting reports, with the intent to conceal from the Tax Service financial compensation from certain senior executives, notably its former finance director Alan Weiselberg, who pleaded guilty.

“For 13 years, the Trump Corporation and the Trump Payroll Corporation have evaded the law by providing lavish perks and compensation to top executives, while deliberately hiding these benefits from tax authorities to avoid paying taxes,” Mr Brock added. A case of greed and fraud.”

As the investigation began in late October, Donald Trump denounced the investigation as a “witch hunt” led by Democrats, even though he was not personally targeted by it.

“We do not agree with this judgment. [et] We will appeal,” Susan Nechels, a lawyer for the Trump Organization, responded in a statement to AFP.

“Mr. Weiselberg testified under oath that he ‘betrayed’ the community’s trust in him and that he acted ‘solely’ for ‘personal gain’ and ‘personal greed’ at all times,” a spokesman argued. For organization.

Close to Donald Trump, Alan Weiselberg pleaded guilty to 15 counts of tax fraud and evasion involving $1.76 million in undeclared income between 2005 and 2021.

Mercedes and money

The septuagenarian, who testified at the trial, admitted to receiving undeclared benefits: an apartment in an upscale Manhattan neighborhood, two Mercedes rentals for him and his wife, or money for his vacation.

Donald Trump has been the subject of several legal actions, but he has yet to face any charges.

In mid-November, three days after announcing his 2024 candidacy, Justice Secretary Merrick Garland announced the appointment of special counsel Jack Smith to lead two U.S. Justice Department investigations: one into former tenant efforts. The White House to change the results of the 2020 presidential election, another management of the presidential archives.

Since October 2023, Donald Trump has been in New York, this time civilly, along with his three children, accused of fraudulent tax practices within the Trump Organization.

In the suit, New York State Attorney General Letitia James accused the Republican billionaire and his children of “deliberately” manipulating the valuation of the group’s assets to get better loans from banks or lower its taxes.

He is seeking $250 million in damages on behalf of the government, as well as bans on the former president and his relatives from running companies.