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Donald Trump's Odds of Going to Prison Just Skyrocketed
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/06/trump-organization-allen-weisselberg-criminal-charges#intcid=recommendations_vf-hive-trending-legacy_4c810068-3f49-456f-bd73-0757a66832bc_popular4-1Crime
Donald Trump’s Odds of Going to Prison Just Skyrocketed
The Trump Organization and its CFO will reportedly be hit with criminal charges on Thursday, and additional indictments may be coming.
By Bess Levin
June 30, 2021
snip//
According to the Journal, Weisselberg and the company are expected to be hit with charges related to allegedly avoiding paying taxes on fringe benefits. For months Cyrus Vance Jr.’s office has been investigating whether the perks the CFO (and other employees) was awarded, including cars, corporate apartments, and private school tuition, were a way of evading money owed to the IRS. In addition to reportedly obtaining Weisselberg’s personal tax returns, the D.A.’s office scored a trove of financial documents from his ex-daughter-in-law, Jennifer Weisselberg, whose former husband, Barry Weisselberg, is also a longtime employee of the company. (In his divorce deposition Barry was unable to answer a number of questions about his taxes, and when asked if taxes had been paid on the Trump Organization–owned apartment where his family previously lived, he said he didn’t know. Pressed to explain discrepancies between what he said he earned and what he actually reported on tax forms, he responded: “I’m not an accountant. I know what I make. I’m not too sure of certain things.”)
While Weisselberg has thus far refused to cooperate with the investigation, being personally charged, and contemplating the prospect of prison time, could obviously change his decision re: testifying against Trump—and if it were to, it would undoubtedly be a very, very bad turn of events for the 45th president. Weisselberg has described himself as the “eyes and ears“ of the company from a financial standpoint, and he could presumably connect any number of dots about potential crimes committed by Trump.
Meanwhile, per the Journal:
If prosecutors could show the Trump Organization and its executives systematically avoided paying taxes, they could file more serious charges alleging a scheme, lawyers said.
Mr. Weisselberg and his lawyers haven’t commented on the investigation or impending charges. Mr. Trump has denied wrongdoing and said the investigations, conducted by offices led by Democrats, are politically motivated. Earlier this week he said in a statement that the case is composed of “things that are standard practice throughout the U.S. business community, and in no way a crime.”
The tax-related investigation is part of a broader criminal probe into whether the Trump Organization and its officers overvalued and undervalued its assets on loan, tax, and insurance documents for financial gain, the Journal has reported. The criminal probe, led by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, and civil probe, by the New York attorney general, have looked at financial dealing around some of the same properties, including Mr. Trump’s Seven Springs estate, in Westchester, N.Y., and the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago, the Journal has reported. The investigations by both offices remain open, and any charges filed Thursday wouldn’t preclude future action. The attorney general’s civil investigation could result in a lawsuit against the Trump Organization or its officers. The criminal investigation could also lead to additional indictments in the future.
Mr. Weisselberg and his lawyers haven’t commented on the investigation or impending charges. Mr. Trump has denied wrongdoing and said the investigations, conducted by offices led by Democrats, are politically motivated. Earlier this week he said in a statement that the case is composed of “things that are standard practice throughout the U.S. business community, and in no way a crime.”
The tax-related investigation is part of a broader criminal probe into whether the Trump Organization and its officers overvalued and undervalued its assets on loan, tax, and insurance documents for financial gain, the Journal has reported. The criminal probe, led by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, and civil probe, by the New York attorney general, have looked at financial dealing around some of the same properties, including Mr. Trump’s Seven Springs estate, in Westchester, N.Y., and the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago, the Journal has reported. The investigations by both offices remain open, and any charges filed Thursday wouldn’t preclude future action. The attorney general’s civil investigation could result in a lawsuit against the Trump Organization or its officers. The criminal investigation could also lead to additional indictments in the future.
As Weisselberg’s ex-daughter-in-law told Air Mail in April, “Trump doesn’t care about Allen, but Allen knows every bad thing he ever did.”
34 replies
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To think that Trump had no idea what was going on is ludicrous.
We just have to wait and see, and hope Weisselberg comes clean in exchange for a deal. I mean, who in their right mind would be okay with taking the fall as the boss goes scot-free?
Stay tuned…
... Crooked Donald should serve his time.
Last edited Sat Jul 3, 2021, 01:29 AM - Edit history (1)
I wonder where that came from.
He worked for mf45's father, so it's either misguided family allegiance or he stands to wind up in jail if he spills the beans. Which hopefully will happen anyway.
