Opening arguments Monday began in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office’s criminal fraud case against the Trump Organization. Prosecutors claimed that the Trump Organization defrauded tax authorities for 15 years, while the Trump Organization legal team attempted to cast blame solely upon former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg.
Susan Hoffinger led with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office opening statement. Hoffinger stated, “This case is about greed and cheating, cheating on taxes. The scheme was conducted, directed and authorized at the highest level so the accounting department at the [Trump Organization].” Hoffinger laid out the prosecution’s theory that the Trump Organization evaded federal, state and local taxes by paying top executives non-cash benefits and bonuses.
Michael van der Veen led the Trump Organization’s defense in opening statements. Van der Veen directed blame on Weisselberg and longtime Trump Organization accounting firm, Mazars. Van der Veen stated, “Greed made [Weisselberg] cheat on his taxes, hide his deeds from his employer, and betray the trust built over nearly 50 years.” While Hoffinger admitted that Weisselberg was a “prime beneficiary” of the scheme, the two parties disagree to what extent Weisselberg is responsible for the tax fraud scheme.
Weisselberg, who pleaded guilty to 15 charges of defrauding New York state and local authorities in August, is expected to testify on behalf of the prosecution in the coming weeks. The trial is expected to last over a month. If convicted, the Trump Organization faces a potential fine of over 1 million dollars.
Former US President Donald Trump is not indicted in this criminal proceeding, however, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has said its criminal investigation into other charges is ongoing. Additionally, the New York Attorney General’s Office filed a separate civil suit against Trump in September. There are also several federal investigations into Trump including two Department of Justice investigations, a subpoena from the January 6 Special Committee and a US House of Representatives committee investigation.
