The Trump Organization and its Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges related to fraud and tax crimes, which former President Donald Trump …
The Trump Organization and its Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges related to fraud and tax crimes, which former President Donald Trump has said is part of a political “witch hunt.” Weisselberg, who has worked for Trump since 1973, surrendered himself to the Manhattan district attorney’s office early Thursday morning after a grand jury in Manhattan filed the indictments against him Wednesday. The Trump Organization and Weisselberg, who was brought into the court room in handcuffs, are accused of perpetrating a 15-year tax scheme, committing 15 felonies in the process, including scheme to defraud, conspiracy, grand larceny and falsifying business records, according to CNN. Weisselberg, according to prosecutors, failed to pay taxes on $1.7 million of income, most of which has reportedly been from fringe benefits, CNN reported. Prior to the arraignment Thursday, Weisselberg’s attorneys, Mary Mulligan and Bryan Skarlatos, claimed Weisselberg will plead not guilty and “will fight these charges in court.” After the charges were announced, Attorneys said bringing criminal charges for fringe benefits is very unusual, even “unprecedented.” Attorneys and tax experts concurred with Weisselberg’s attorneys that it is atypical for criminal charges to be filed over fringe benefits. “Politics has no role in the grand jury chamber, and I can assure your honor that it played no role here,” the assistant district attorney said. “The charges were considered by an impartial grand jury, and we look forward to this court’s review of the grand jury minutes, which will confirm that impartiality,” Assistant Manhattan District Attorney Carey Dunne said, according to Fox News. The Daily Caller reached out to attorneys and tax experts and asked if this investigation is politically motivated. Lynne Fuentes, a CPA and NYS Society of CPAs President -Elect, told the Caller that “To bring criminal charges up only related to fringe benefits is rare.
