The criminal dynamic regarding the Trump organization continues to evolve.
Last week, reports stated that Allen Weisselberg would be charged this week. Starting this last Monday, however, we learned that it would be the Trump Organization itself, indicted, with individual indictments coming later in the summer or early fall. But this morning, the Wall Street Journal reports that both the Trump Organization and Weisselberg will be charged tomorrow, and are expected to enter their not guilty plea in the afternoon.
The Trump Organization and Mr. Weisselberg are expected to face charges related to allegedly evading taxes on fringe benefits, the people said. For months, the Manhattan district attorney’s office and New York state attorney general’s office have been investigating whether Mr. Weisselberg and other employees illegally avoided paying taxes on perks—such as cars, apartments and private-school tuition—that they received from the Trump Organization.
If prosecutors could show the Trump Organization and its executives systematically avoided paying taxes, they could file more serious charges alleging a scheme, lawyers said.
This, of course, is meant to put immense pressure upon the Trump family itself. Weisselberg might be willing to face prison time if the alternative was even worse, and there are scenarios one can envision in which such possibilities exist. If Weisselberger cut a deal, he could almost surely avoid prison time, but he would almost surely be out of a job.
One gets the sense that the Manhattan D.A. believes that they can prove a lot more serious tax evasion against Trump than just unreported perks. Michael Cohen testified that the Trump Organization kept two sets of books, one for taxes, where property was devalued, and one for sales and collateral to secure loans, where values were exaggerated. Many of the country’s largest real estate entities fudge around the edges in the same manner, it is a question of degree. Additionally, there is always the lingering possibility that the Trump Organization actually served as a front to launder international money. As of yet, there are no facts, only speculation, regarding money laundering. Who knows what New York might be able to prove.
Regardless, it appears that Trump himself is about to go through some things. And as mad as Trump is going to be, imagine the terror emanating from the boys’ skulls. Ivanka is rich on her own, both through Jared and her own deals as Daddy’s favorite. We get the sense that the boys were relying heavily upon inheriting the empire.
Trump has done his best (and continues to do so) to bring about the end of the American empire, it seems only fair that the Trump Organization business empire suffer the same fate.
One last thing, though. We here at this site continue to believe that stage charges against a former president are a dangerous precedent and, even though no one is above the law, if one is going to charge an ex-president, it should be the federal government. If Trump criminally cheated on his state taxes, god only knows what’s in his federal taxes. We strongly believe that criminal cases against ex-presidents are of such magnitude that it should be a national decision, brought by the federal government.
We will see what happens. The stakes couldn’t be higher.
The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LeftScoop.news. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.
Join the Discussion
COMMENTS POLICY: We have no tolerance for messages of violence, racism, vulgarity, obscenity or other such discourteous behavior. Thank you for contributing to a respectful and useful online dialogue.