Donald Trump’s real estate company was convicted on Tuesday of carrying out a 15-year-long criminal scheme to defraud tax authorities, adding to the legal woes facing the former U.S. president as he campaigns for the office again in 2024.
The case centred on charges that the company paid personal expenses like free rent and car leases for top executives including former chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg without reporting the income, and paid them bonuses as if they were independent contractors. Trump himself is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice over his handling of sensitive government documents after he left office in January 2021 and attempts to overturn the November 2020 election, which he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.
“The question here is not whether as a byproduct the company saved some money,” Susan Necheles, a defence lawyer, said in her closing argument on Thursday. “ intent was to benefit himself, not the company.”
The potential fine is about $1.6 million and only the company was found guilty. One supposes that the company won't even bother appealing over such a small amount of money (compared to the legal fees associated with fighting it).
No coverage on the recent Biden-Twitter scandal?
I bet all the haters are rejoicing...but this isn't a gotcha moment..sorry. His CFO took responsibility. End of story. BTW, Biden showered with his daughter.
Another nothing burger from the lefties. TDS
NY jury CONVICTS Trump Organization on all counts. Two important takeaways: 1. this likely spells the end of Trump Org, and 2. this increases the odds of a NY prosecution of Trump himself, given that the prosecution argued “Evidence shows Trump 'explicitly' OK'd tax fraud.”
Notice who’s getting indicted lately, attorneys who work for Trump’s company and not Trump. He’s squeaky clean