Trump Org. Convicted on All Counts in Tax Fraud Case
In a Manhattan court on Tuesday, the Trump Organization was convicted of tax crimes committed by two long-time executives, including conspiracy, scheme to defraud, criminal tax fraud, and falsifying business records.
Facts
- In a Manhattan court on Tuesday, the Trump Organization was convicted of tax crimes committed by two long-time executives, including conspiracy, scheme to defraud, criminal tax fraud, and falsifying business records.
- The company was convicted on a total of 17 counts and, though he wasn't personally a defendant in the tax evasion case involving compensation in the form of perks to its then-CFO Allen Weisselberg and other executives since 2005, a prosecutor alleged that former Pres. Trump "knew exactly what was going on."
- Though company lawyers argued Weisselberg acted on his own, the 75-year-old former executive testified that Trump's children did nothing in 2017 after allegedly learning about the scheme. He claimed he even received a $200k raise.
- The verdict came on the second day of deliberations and after three years of prosecutor investigations, with the organization now facing upwards of a $1.6M punishment.
- The two organization subsidiaries on trial were the Trump Corporation and the Trump Payroll Corporation, both of which were found guilty of providing illegal kickbacks to Weisselberg.
- The verdict doesn't end Trump's battle with the Manhattan District Attorney, with Democrat DA Alvin Brigg having previously said that a related investigation is "active and ongoing." That case involves whether Trump misled banks and others about the value of his real estate holdings, golf courses, and other assets.
Sources: Washington Examiner, CNBC, New York Post, and NBC New York.
Narratives
- Pro-Trump narrative, as provided by Washington Examiner. This case was just another attempt to undermine Trump and his organization with frivolous lawsuits. Weisselberg had already pleaded guilty and is the clear culprit behind the alleged scheme, yet the former president's opposition is quick to use this as a weapon against him. Democrats seemingly won’t stop until they’ve bled Trump dry via legal warfare.
- Democratic narrative, as provided by Rolling Stone. Attempts to separate Trump from the fraud committed by his company are naïve. While the former president may not be on trial in this particular case, there's no doubt that the businessman was fully aware of Weisselberg's — and the rest of the company's — doings. The defense had a losing case from the start.
