NEW YORK (Reuters) – As the criminal trial for Donald Trump’s real estate firm draws to a close, defense attorneys told jurors on Thursday about years of tax evasion by a greedy former senior executive. , Trump tried to assure him he knew nothing.
Susan Necheres, who represents a division of the Trump Organization, points the finger at the company’s longtime chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, in her closing argument before a 12-member jury in New York state court in Manhattan. rice field.
“The only reason we are here today is because of Allen Weisselberg’s greed.
Necheles also accused Donald Bender, an outside accountant at Mazars USA, for turning a blind eye to Weisselberg’s wrongdoing rather than a whistleblower complaint.
“President Trump relied on Mathers and relied on Donald Bender to be his watchdog,” Nekeles said. “The vendor has failed.”
Prosecutors will hold closing arguments Thursday afternoon and Friday, with jury deliberations scheduled to begin Monday.
In July 2021, the Trump Organization launched a 15-year plan to defraud tax authorities by paying some executives personal expenses without reporting their income, making them independent contractors or not. was prosecuted for compensating as
If convicted on all nine counts facing it, the company faces fines of up to $1.6 million. Trump, who is running for president in 2024, has not been indicted.
Weisselberg will plead guilty to tax evasion and other charges and will serve five months in prison, as agreed with prosecutors.
The trial began on October 24 before Judge Juan Merchan.
To prove the Trump Organization’s guilt, prosecutors said that Weisselberg and other executives acted as “highly controlled agents” for the company in their tax evasion and that they had benefited the company in some way. You must prove that you intended to bring
Weisselberg has worked for the Trump family for almost 50 years and is currently on paid leave.
He testified that he improperly received bonus payments as non-employee compensation and hid various payments from the company for rent, car leases, and other personal expenses from tax authorities.
Weisselberg’s testimony may have served the defense.
He told jurors that greed motivated him to cheat on taxes, describing the company’s modest payroll tax savings as a “by-product”. , he choked on the stand.
Necheles told jurors:
Bender, who was granted immunity from prosecution, was the primary defense witness. He testified that he relied on Weisselberg to provide accurate financial information on the company’s tax returns and was under no obligation to investigate further.
Mazars cut ties with the Trump Organization in February.
Trump, a Republican, said the charges were politically motivated. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is a Democrat, as is his predecessor Cyrus Vance, who was indicted last year.
The criminal case is separate from a $250 million civil lawsuit filed by the New York Attorney General against Trump, his three adult children, and his company in September. They accuse him of overestimating his property value and his net worth to obtain favorable bank loans and insurance.
Trump is also facing federal investigations for trying to reverse his 2020 election loss by removing government documents from the White House after he resigned.
Reported by Luc Cohen, New York.Editing by Will Dunham, Noileen Walder, Bill Barclot
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