Companies are exposed to financial and political risks as they are susceptible to criminal prosecution | Donald trump

Donald Trump faces a potentially devastating financial and political blow as state prosecutors consider filing criminal charges against his family business this week.

Attorney new York In the immediate term, this could lead to lawsuits against the Trump organization over the imposition of favorable benefits granted to senior executives, such as the use of an apartment, a car and school fees.

The 45th president should not be prosecuted personally, but a legal drama could ruin relationships with banks and other business partners and bankrupt his company by clouding his political comeback. There is sex.

Trump Organization attorney Ron Fishetti held a virtual meeting with the prosecutor last Thursday for about 90 minutes in an effort to deter prosecutors from laying criminal charges against the company.

“Even if you are indeed being sued, the lawsuits are absolutely outrageous and unprecedented,” Fishetti said. Told the Associated Press Friday. “It’s just to get back to Donald Trump. We plead not guilty and file a non-suit. “

The Washington Post reported that Fishetti and his colleagues are due to make closing arguments against the indictment until Monday.

A long-term investigation by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance began after Michael Cohen, a former lawyer and Trump coordinator. Paid hash money Two women claim to have had sex with Trump before the 2016 presidential election. Trump denies the allegation.

Now there is one specific Focus on Allen Weisserberg, 73, longtime CFO of the Trump organization, a private real estate conglomerate. Prosecutors pay tuition fees to his son Barry, who uses Trump’s apartment almost or for free, rents a car for his family and the school Weisselberg’s grandson attends. I am investigating this.

Such gifts and benefits are worth tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars. If Weisselberg does not properly account for the amount on income tax returns and other financial statements, he may be exposed to legal risk. However, Fishetti argues that the criminal charges based on fringe benefits represent a speculative departure from the previous one.

“We looked at the 100-year-old case and found no cases where employees were charged with benefits. It’s definitely not a business, ”he told AP. “”[To be a crime] It will have to be in the best interests of a business knowing the business. They have no proof. “

Yet whether Weisselberg remains loyal to the former president or becomes an informant, Mr. Trump (the owner of the company), his sons Don Jr. and Eric, and his daughter Ivanka. It is interesting to see if there is a possibility of testimony.

Trump, who was defeated by Joe Biden in last year’s November election, has long tried to dismiss the investigation. “”Witch hunt“ He remains politically active. He returned to the campaign rally On Saturday, he will be deeply involved in the 2022 midterm elections and could run for president again in 2024. However, there are signs that the wall is approaching.

Vance has investigated “likely widespread and prolonged criminal activity,” reviewed Trump’s tax records, submitted documents, and interviewed witnesses, including Trump insiders and business executives. The grand jury recently Look at the evidence..

Meanwhile, New York Attorney General Letitia James has appointed two attorneys to work with Vance in a criminal investigation while continuing his own civilian investigation into Trump’s cases. mentionned.

James’ office is investigating whether the Trump organization inflated the value of some real estate to get better terms on the loan and lowered it to get a property tax deduction.

Court records show some duplication between Vance and James’ separate investigations, including an interest in Seven Springs, a 212-acre property on the outskirts of Manhattan that Trump bought in 1995. Another house-building project luxury was dropped after local opposition hampered plans to build a golf course.

Trump was angry and blamed the two investigations. In the declaration Monday outing, He claimed the case was an extension of the Democratic “witch hunt” against him. “They will do anything to stop the MAGA movement (and me),” he said, citing the Make America Great Again campaign slogan, and the Trump Organization as simply “standard practices throughout the American business community” . And it’s not a crime at all. “

The former president added: “There are politically motivated prosecutors, and people who are indeed elected because they have Donald Trump” are very dangerous for our country. After all, people are that. I do not support. Remember, if they can do this to me, anyone can! “

Trump loses power in Washington He is now depriving him, his family and his business of the legal protection he enjoyed in the White House.

For example, the District of Columbia attorney general’s office is suing the Trump organization and the president. Inauguration committee Over a million dollars in alleged abuse for the use of event space in Trump Hotel in Washington Trump’s presidential inauguration January 2017.

Ivanka, a senior White House adviser, sat down last December to take testimony with an investigator, but there is no imminent danger of criminal charges.