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Over the years, former President Donald Trump’s family company has been involved in thousands of business disputes that landed it in civil court, both as plaintiff and as respondent. But The Trump Organization has never been tried in a court of law for crimes, until now.
On Monday in New York State Court in Lower Manhattan, jury selection began in the trial of the Trump Organization, which is accused of evading taxes by compensating employees through off-the-books benefits like luxury cars, apartments, and private school tuition.
The nine counts for which the company will be tried include conspiracy, criminal tax fraud, and falsifying business records. The alleged scheme stretches back to 2005, the year Trump married his third wife, Melania, through his 2016 campaign, his presidency, and the first half-year after his presidency ended.The Trump Organization has pleaded not guilty
The Trump Organization has pleaded not guilty, and Trump has consistently maintained that he is the victim of politically-motivated prosecutors.
The trial’s start comes as Trump faces a mounting array of litigation and investigations. There is a U.S. Department of Justice probe into his handling of classified documents, a Georgia investigation into his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, and a civil fraud case pending against Trump and his company for allegedly lying to financial institutions about the value of his assets.
If the Trump business is convicted on felony charges, this could make it very difficult for the company to continue doing business with banks and insurers.
In charging documents, prosecutors from the Manhattan District Attorney’s office called the Trump Organization’s alleged conduct „a systematic ongoing course of conduct with intent to defraud.
