Trump Organization, Finance Chief Charged with Tax Fraud
2021-07-02
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1New York's government lawyers charged the Trump Organization and its long-time finance chief Thursday with carrying out a 15-year operation to "defraud" the government.
2The charging document reads that from 2005 through this year, the Trump Organization and its finance chief Allen Weisselberg cheated the state and city of taxes.
3It accuses them of hiding payments to top-level employees, including almost $1.7 million to Weisselberg himself.
4The company and chief financial officer were also charged with falsifying business records and other crimes.
5The charges follow a two-year investigation into former President Donald Trump's businesses.
6In a New York courtroom, the state's prosecutors described what they found as "a sweeping and audacious illegal payments" operation.
7Both Weisselberg and the Trump Organization pleaded not guilty.
8Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. and New York Attorney General Letitia James, led the investigation.
9They are both members of the Democratic Party.
10But, they said politics was not a consideration in the decision to bring charges.
11Trump, a Republican, was not charged.
12He released a statement calling the case "the political Witch Hunt by the Radical Left Democrats."
13Weisselberg was ordered to surrender his passport to the court and the was released.
14He left the courthouse without commenting to reporters.
15Weisselberg first started working for Trump's father, Fred, in 1973.
16He has worked for the Trump Organization for 48 years.
17As the chief finance officer, he has deep knowledge of the former president's business dealings.
18The charges increase the pressure on Weisselberg to cooperate with investigators examining Trump's businesses.
19Trump's daughter, Ivanka, has called Weisselberg "fiercely loyal" and said that he "stood alongside my father and our family" for years.
20In a statement Thursday, the Trump Organization said the government was charging Weisselberg in an "attempt to harm the former president." It said, "This is not justice; this is politics."
21Cyrus Vance is leaving office at the end of the year.
22His office, however, continues with its wide investigation into Trump and his businesses.
23Vance fought a long battle in court to get Trump's tax records.
24He has also obtained financial documents and met with company officials and others.
25The Trump Organization is the business that the former president uses to operate all his investments, including properties like city buildings, hotels and golf courses.
26I'm Caty Weaver.
1New York's government lawyers charged the Trump Organization and its long-time finance chief Thursday with carrying out a 15-year operation to "defraud" the government. 2The charging document reads that from 2005 through this year, the Trump Organization and its finance chief Allen Weisselberg cheated the state and city of taxes. It accuses them of hiding payments to top-level employees, including almost $1.7 million to Weisselberg himself. The company and chief financial officer were also charged with falsifying business records and other crimes. 3The charges follow a two-year investigation into former President Donald Trump's businesses. In a New York courtroom, the state's prosecutors described what they found as "a sweeping and audacious illegal payments" operation. Both Weisselberg and the Trump Organization pleaded not guilty. 4Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. and New York Attorney General Letitia James, led the investigation. They are both members of the Democratic Party. But, they said politics was not a consideration in the decision to bring charges. 5Trump, a Republican, was not charged. He released a statement calling the case "the political Witch Hunt by the Radical Left Democrats." 6Weisselberg was ordered to surrender his passport to the court and the was released. He left the courthouse without commenting to reporters. 7Weisselberg first started working for Trump's father, Fred, in 1973. He has worked for the Trump Organization for 48 years. 8As the chief finance officer, he has deep knowledge of the former president's business dealings. The charges increase the pressure on Weisselberg to cooperate with investigators examining Trump's businesses. 9Trump's daughter, Ivanka, has called Weisselberg "fiercely loyal" and said that he "stood alongside my father and our family" for years. 10In a statement Thursday, the Trump Organization said the government was charging Weisselberg in an "attempt to harm the former president." It said, "This is not justice; this is politics." 11Cyrus Vance is leaving office at the end of the year. His office, however, continues with its wide investigation into Trump and his businesses. 12Vance fought a long battle in court to get Trump's tax records. He has also obtained financial documents and met with company officials and others. 13The Trump Organization is the business that the former president uses to operate all his investments, including properties like city buildings, hotels and golf courses. 14I'm Caty Weaver. 15Hai Do adapted this story based on reporting from the Associated Press and Reuters. Caty Weaver was the editor. 16________________________________________________ 17Words in This Story 18defraud - v. to cheat in order to gain money 19prosecutor - n. a lawyer representing the government to accuse a person of a crime 20sweeping - adj. involving many things 21audacious - adj. very bold and shocking