Prosecutors in New York told former president Donald Trump’s lawyers they had until yesterday to make any final arguments as to why the Trump Organisation should not face criminal charges over its financial dealings,
This is seen to be a strong signal that Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr and New York Attorney General Letitia James, both Democrats – now working together, after each has spent more than two years investigating Mr Trump’s business – are considering criminal charges against the company.
Earlier this year, Mr Vance convened a grand jury in Manhattan to consider indictments in the investigation.
No entity or individual has been charged in the investigations so far, and it remains possible that no charges will be filed.
Prosecutors have shown interest in whether Mr Trump’s company used misleading valuations of its properties to deceive lenders and taxing authorities, and in whether taxes were paid on fringe benefits for company executives, according to court documents and people familiar with the investigations.
The two people familiar with the deadline set for Mr Trump’s attorneys spoke on the condition of anonymity to disclose private conversations.
Under New York law, prosecutors may file charges against corporations in addition to individuals.
Last Thursday, lawyers working for Mr Trump and for the Trump Organisation met virtually with prosecutors to make the case that charges were not warranted.
Meetings like these are common in financial investigations, allowing defence attorneys a chance to present evidence before prosecutors make a decision on whether to seek charges.
Spokespeople for Mr Vance and Ms James declined to comment, as did an attorney for Mr Trump, Ronald Fischetti, and an attorney for the Trump Organisation, Alan Futerfas.
People familiar with the inquiry confirmed to The Washington Post that prosecutors were looking at charging the Trump Organisation as well as Trump Organisation chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg, following Mr Weisselberg’s refusal to assist in the investigation.
Mr Fischetti said prosecutors are going forward with a case against the company because Mr Weisselberg wasn’t “cooperating and saying what they want him to say” with respect to whether Mr Trump had personal knowledge about his CFO’s alleged use of cars, apartments and other compensation that prosecutors think may not have been reported properly to tax authorities, according to people with knowledge of the case.
Mr Trump still owns his businesses through a trust managed by his adult sons and Mr Weisselberg.
He gave up day-to-day management of the company while in the White House, but it is unclear what role he plays in the company’s operations now.
Last month, Mr Trump called the investigations a “witch hunt” run by Democrats seeking to damage his future political prospects.
“It began the day I came down the escalator in Trump Tower, and it’s never stopped,” Trump said in a news release, referring to the start of his presidential campaign in 2015. (© Washington Post)
© Washington Post