Trump Organization, CFO charged with fraud and tax crimes

The Trump Organization and its chief financial officer (CFO), Allen Weisselberg, were charged with tax-related crimes late on Thursday, US media houses reported.

Criminal charges against the former president's real estate business marks a first following a year of investigations.

The Manhattan district attorney’s office brought charges against Trump’s long-serving and trusted CFO Allen H. Weisselberg, who surrendered earlier today. He was charged with failing to properly report company perks, including rent-free apartments, school fees and cars.

Weisselberg intends to plead not guilty, as per a statement put out earlier, and intends to fight the charges in court. The Trump Organization also issued a statement, saying Weisselberg was being used as a “pawn in a scorched-earth attempt to harm the former president,” the New York Times reported.