"All Americans should be concerned" - Trump Organization lawyer on charges against company CFO

Record ID: 1624461

  • Title: "All Americans should be concerned" - Trump Organization lawyer on charges against company CFO
  • Date: 1st July 2021
  • Summary: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (JULY 1, 2021) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** TRUMP ORGANIZATION CFO, ALLEN WEISSELBERG, EXITING COURTROOM SURROUNDED BY OTHERS WEISSELBERG AND OTHERS LEAVING COURTHOUSE AND INTO WAITING SUV ATTORNEY FOR THE TRUMP ORGANIZATION, ALAN FUTERFAS, AT MICROPHONE STAND OUTSIDE COURTHOUSE (SOUNDBITE) (English) ATTORNEY FOR THE TRUMP ORGANIZATION, ALAN FUTERFAS, SAYING: "People across the country, we believe, have heard of corporate apartments, have heard of corporate cars, all of this is on the books and records of the company. That's how they know about it. And so it's, in my view, my personal view, it's not appropriate. And quite frankly, it sets a precedent. I think in 244 years, we have not had a local prosecutor go after a former president of the United States or his employees or his company. And that is a significant line to cross." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) ATTORNEY FOR THE TRUMP ORGANIZATION, ALAN FUTERFAS, SAYING: "The allegations in the indictment are just that, they are allegations. They have to be proven. These kinds of cases typically are resolved in the civil context. Why? Because the law on compensation, on fringe benefits, is murky. It's difficult. It's complex. You can have experts disagree. So these charges are going to be vigorously contested and they're going to be vigorously contested by people who are experts in the field and know this law very, very well." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) ATTORNEY FOR THE TRUMP ORGANIZATION, SUSAN NECHELES, SAYING: "I think all Americans should be concerned about what they see in this case today. This case is truly unprecedented. The attorney general's office and the district attorney's office brought a joint prosecution here because they dislike Donald Trump politically." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) ATTORNEY FOR THE TRUMP ORGANIZATION, SUSAN NECHELES, SAYING: "We will win this case, but this case should have never been brought. It is a political prosecution. Political prosecutions where people are targeted criminally because the prosecutors disagree with their political beliefs happen in corrupt countries. It does not happen in America. It's un-American. It should not happen here in New York City. The greatest city in the greatest democracy in the world, should not have occurred. And it is a sad day in New York that this occurred. Thank you. I'm not answering any questions." NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL, LETITIA JAMES, LEAVING COURTHOUSE (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL, LETITIA JAMES, SAYING: JOURNALIST ASKING (OFF CAMERA): "Is this just the beginning of your investigation into the Trump Organization?" LETITIA JAMES: "The indictment speaks for itself." SUV WITH JAMES INSIDE, DRIVING AWAY FROM COURTHOUSE
  • Embargoed: 15th July 2021 20:42
  • Keywords: Allen Weisselberg Cyrus Vance Donald Trump Trump Organization
  • Location: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
  • City: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Judicial Process/Court Cases/Court Decisions,United States
  • Reuters ID: LVA001EK0GBWN
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:VIDEO QUALITY AS INCOMING
    Donald Trump's namesake company and longtime financial chief pleaded not guilty on Thursday (July 1) to criminal charges in a sweeping indictment from Manhattan's district attorney as he probes the former U.S. president and his business practices.
    The Trump Organization and its chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg were charged with having schemed since 2005 to defraud tax authorities through the awarding of "off the books" benefits to company executives.
    Weisselberg was charged with concealing $1.76 million of income including rent for a Manhattan apartment, lease payments for two Mercedes Benz vehicles and tuition for family members, with Trump signing checks for the tuition himself.
    The 15-count indictment unveiled by District Attorney Cyrus Vance charged the defendants with tax fraud and falsifying business records.
    Weisselberg, who has worked for Trump for 48 years, was also charged with grand larceny.
    The indictment could undermine the Trump Organization's relationships with banks and business partners.
    It could also complicate Trump's political future, as he resumes holding rallies and mulls a 2024 White House run, even though Trump himself was not charged.
    "The political Witch Hunt by the Radical Left Democrats, with New York now taking over the assignment, continues," Trump said in a statement. "It is dividing our Country like never before!"
    Vance began his still-ongoing investigation nearly three years ago and has been working in recent months with the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James.
    Both are Democrats, and attended Thursday's arraignment in Manhattan criminal court.
    Weisselberg, 73, wore handcuffs as he was led to the courtroom. He was released without bail and driven away in a black SUV, with an onlooker shouting: "Bye, you crook."
    Alan Futerfas, a lawyer for the Trump Organization, told reporters after the arraignment that "the allegations in the indictment are just that, they are allegations. In my personal view, it's not appropriate. And quite frankly, it sets a precedent. I think in 244 years, we have not had a local prosecutor go after a former president of the United States or his employees or his company. And that is a significant line to cross."
    Susan Necheles, another lawyer for the Trump Organization said that "all Americans should be concerned about what they see in this case today. This case is truly unprecedented. We will win this case, but this case should have never been brought. It is a political prosecution."
    In a separate statement, the Trump Organization said prosecutors were using Weisselberg as "a pawn in a scorched earth attempt to harm the former president."
    It also called Vance's case one that neither the Internal Revenue Service nor any other district attorney would ever bring.
    The Trump Organization could face fines and other penalties if convicted.
    The indictment could increase pressure on Weisselberg to cooperate with prosecutors, which he has resisted.
    That cooperation could become crucial to any future case against his boss.
    The Trump Organization operates hotels, golf courses, and resorts around the world.
    Before entering the White House in January 2017, Trump put his company into a trust overseen by his adult sons Donald Jr and Eric, as well as Weisselberg. It is unclear what role Trump now has at the company.
    Vance has been examining a wide array of potential wrongdoing at Trump's company, including whether it manipulated the value of its real estate to reduce taxes and secure favorable loan terms.
    He has also been examining hush money payments made before the 2016 presidential election to two women who said they had sexual encounters with Trump, which he has denied.
    Michael Cohen, a former Trump lawyer who turned against his former boss and has cooperated with Vance's probe, has said Weisselberg was involved in reimbursing him for payments to one of the women, adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
    Jennifer Weisselberg, the former wife of Weisselberg's son Barry, has been cooperating with Vance's office, and provided tax and other financial records.
    Vance has been district attorney for 11-1/2 years. He leaves office at the end of the year.
    (Production: Aleksandra Michalska, Angela Moore, Hussein Al Waaile, Soren Larson, Roselle Chen)
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