The trial for alleged tax fraud against the Trump Organization and its former financial director Allen Weisselberg will begin on October 24, a New York judge who rejected the case ruled Friday, according to local media.
Former US President Donald Trump’s company and director were charged last summer with operating a tax evasion scheme. for more than 15 yearsin which they supposedly paid executives “under the table”, giving them a significant part of their remuneration in order to reduce the payment of taxes.
Donald Trump is not directly charged in the case, which targets his company and Weisselberg, one of his most loyal allies who has worked for the family business for nearly half a century.
Judge Juan Merchan rejected the arguments presented by the defendants, who destined to file the caseasserting that he had political motivations.
Merchan dropped one of several tax fraud charges against the Trump Organization, but confirmed the rest and gave the green light for the trial to begin.
The process should begin on October 24 with the selection of the jury, according to the local press.
The news comes in the midst of a difficult week for Trump, in which the FBI (US Federal Police) conducted searches of his Florida mansion, allegedly looking for national security documents that the former president allegedly stole from the House. Blanca and which, according to The Washington Post, are linked to nuclear weapons.
The FBI searched Donald Trump’s Palm Beach resort. The former US president says they want to prevent him from running for election in 2024
In addition, the former head of state had to testify last Wednesday before the New York Attorney General’s Office as part of a long investigation into the business practices of his company.
Trump, who spent hours meeting with prosecutors that day, chose to remain silent and not answer questions, saying he is being the target of “a politically motivated witch hunt,” he explained.
Trump asks his supporters to give him money to face “the witch hunt”
The case that goes to trial in October is the result of the first charges that were filed as a result of the investigations into the business of the ‘Trump Organization’.
Weisselberg is accused of being one of the main beneficiaries of the alleged tax fraud, having collected up to 1.7 million dollars (1.65 million euros) in outstanding taxes, according to the indictment, which is also addressed to a member of his family and at least two other employees of the company.
The ‘Trump Organization’ allegedly paid these individuals lower wages, thereby reducing their payroll taxes, while offering them secondary compensation that was not properly reported to authorities.
Among other things, Weisselberg and other executives reportedly arranged accommodation, tuition for private schools, and cash payments to cover all kinds of personal expenses.
Source: Observadora
