The Trump Organization tax fraud trial has headed for deliberation, Reuters reports.
Jurors in the case are set to begin deliberating today after four weeks of testimony and arguments.
The case involves executive pay practices at Donald Trump’s real estate company that prosecutors say amounted to a years-long criminal scheme.
The former U.S. president’s company was charged in 2021 with paying personal expenses for some executives without reporting the income, and compensating them as if they were independent contractors.
The suit says the scheme to cheat tax authorities went on for 15 years.
The Trump Organization pleaded not guilty. The company faces up to $1.6 million in fines if convicted.
The longtime chief financial officer of the organization, Allen Weisselberg, pleaded guilty and testified for the prosecution.
Trump has not been charged directly in the case. But prosecutor Joshua Steinglass said in his closing argument on Friday that Trump was aware of the scheme, part of an effort to counter the defense’s argument that Weisselberg, 75, sought only to benefit himself and hid his wrongdoing from the Trump family.
Trump says the legal charges are political.
The defense attorney argued that Trump knew nothing about the years-long scheme.
To prove guilt, prosecutors must show Weisselberg and other executives acted as “high managerial agents” when they carried out tax fraud and that they intended to benefit the company in some way.
Weisselberg has worked for the Trump family for about five decades and is now on paid leave.
He testified that he improperly received bonus payments as non-employee compensation and hid from tax authorities payments for rent, car leases, and other personal expenses.
Trump faces multiple legal battles.
This criminal case is separate from a $250m civil lawsuit filed by the New York attorney general against Trump, three of his adult children and his company in September, accusing them of overstating asset values and his net worth to get favorable bank loans and insurance.
Be the first to comment