Trump’s corporation and its former monetary leader have been charged with fees stemming from an investigation in New York into the former president’s business relationships, two other people close to the matter told The Associated Press.
The fees opposed to the Trump Organization and the company’s lead monetary official, Allen Weisselberg, remained sealed Wednesday night, but are expected to involve alleged tax violations similar to the benefits the company has awarded to top executives, adding in all likelihood the use of departments. , cars and tuition fees, other people familiar with the case said.
The Americans were not legal to talk about an ongoing investigation and did so on condition of anonymity. The Wall Street Journal was the first to report that tariffs were expected thursday.
The company and Weisselberg were due to make their first court appearance on Thursday.
The fees opposed to Weisselberg and the Trump Organization would be the first criminal cases to stem from the two-year investigation through Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. , a Democrat who left at the end of the year.
Prosecutors reviewed Trump’s tax files, subpoenaed documents and interviewed witnesses, adding inside information and Trump executives.
Recently, a grand jury was formed to compare the evidence, and New York Attorney General Letitia James said she assigned two of her lawyers to paint with Vance about the offender’s investigation while she conducted a civil investigation into Trump.
Messages requesting comment were sent to a spokesperson and lawyers for the Trump Organization. Weisselberg’s attorney, Mary Mulligan, declined to comment. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office declined to comment.
Trump’s spokesman did not respond to a request for comment, but Jason Miller, a former senior adviser to the Republican for a long time, called the impending allegations “politically horrible for Democrats. “
“They told their fools and begers in the mainstream media that it was President Trump. Instead, his witch hunt haunts an 80-year-old man through no fault of his own, because he’s probably parked freely!” tweeted Miller, referring to Weisselberg, who is 73.
Trump, who has criticized President Joe Biden’s immigration policy in Texas on Wednesday visiting the U. S. -Mexico border, did not respond to shouted questions about the tariffs while attending a briefing with state officials.
Trump had criticized the investigation on a Monday, calling Vance’s workplace “rude, nasty and completely biased” in his remedy against Trump’s longtime corporate lawyers, representatives and employees.
Trump, in the statement, said the company’s moves were “things that are not an unusual practice in the American business community, and by no means a crime” and that Vance’s investigation was an investigation “in search of a crime. “
Lawyers for the Trump Organization met virtually with Manhattan prosecutors last week in a last-minute attempt to dissuade them from charging the company, who gave lawyers a deadline Monday to argue that no criminal fees would be charged.
Ron Fischetti, an attorney for the Trump Organization, told the AP this week that there is no indication that Trump himself is included in the first set of charges.
“There is no indictment this week against the former president,” Fischetti said. “I can’t say I’m still absolutely out of the woods. “
Weisselberg, an unwavering lieutenant of Trump and his father, genuine real estate developer Fred, has come under scrutiny, in part because of questions about his son’s use of a Trump component at little or no cost.
Barry Weisselberg controlled an ice rink operated through Trump in Central Park.
Barry’s ex-wife, Jen Weisselberg, cooperated with the investigation and turned over tons of records and tax documents to investigators.
“We have been working with prosecutors for many months as part of this tax and monetary investigation and have provided a lot of evidence that allowed them to bring those charges,” Jen Weisselberg’s attorney, Duncan Levin, said Wednesday. “We are very happy to hear that the prosecutor is moving forward with a criminal case. “
Allen Weisselberg has been with the Trump Organization since 1973 and the case opposing him may give prosecutors the means to pressure the executive branch to cooperate and tell them what it knows about Trump’s business relationship.
Prosecutors have subpoenaed Trump’s former monetary executives, senior vice president and controller Jeffrey McConney, to testify before the grand jury in the spring. Under New York law, grand jury witnesses enjoy immunity and cannot be charged for the conduct for which they testify. .
Prosecutors investigating the tax-free benefits of Trump executives also tested Matthew Calamari, a former Trump bodyguard turned operations leader, and his son, the company’s chief security officer. be loaded.
“While the prosecutor’s investigation is clearly ongoing, I expect fees to be imposed on any of my clients at this time,” attorney Nicholas Gravante said.
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Associated Press editors Jill Colvin in Weslaco, Texas, and Bernard Condon in New York contributed to this report.
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On Twitter, Michael Sisak on twitter. com/mikesisak
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