The real estate company of former US president Donald Trump was convicted of carrying out a scheme to defraud tax authorities. EPA
The real estate company of former US president Donald Trump was convicted of carrying out a scheme to defraud tax authorities. EPA
The real estate company of former US president Donald Trump was convicted of carrying out a scheme to defraud tax authorities. EPA
The real estate company of former US president Donald Trump was convicted of carrying out a scheme to defraud tax authorities. EPA

Trump Organisation convicted of scheme to defraud tax authorities


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Donald Trump's real estate company was convicted on Tuesday of carrying out a criminal scheme to defraud tax authorities for more than 15 years.

The conviction adds to the legal woes facing the former US president as he campaigns for the office again in 2024.

The Trump Organisation — which operates hotels, golf courses and other property around the world — faces fines over the conviction.

The exact amount will be determined by the judge overseeing the trial in the New York state court at a later date.

The company pleaded not guilty. Mr Trump was not charged in the case.

While the fine is not expected to be of significance for a company of the Trump Organisation's size, the conviction by a jury could complicate its ability to do business by unnerving lenders and partners.

The case centred on charges that the company paid personal expenses such as free rent and car leases for top executives, including former chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg, without reporting the income, and paid them bonuses as if they were independent contractors.

"The smorgasbord of benefits is designed to keep its top executives happy and loyal," prosecutor Joshua Steinglass told jurors during his closing argument on Friday.

The Trump Organisation also faces a fraud lawsuit brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Ms Trump is being investigated by the US Department of Justice over his handling of sensitive government documents after he left office in January 2021, and attempts to overturn the November 2020 election, which he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.

Weisselberg, 75, testified as the government's star witness as part of a plea deal with prosecutors that will allow him to spend no more than five months in jail.

The Trump Organisation said Weisselberg carried out the scheme to benefit himself. He is on paid leave from the company and testified that he received more than $1 million in salary and bonus payments this year.

"The question here is not whether as a byproduct the company saved some money," Susan Necheles, a defence lawyer, said in her closing argument on Thursday.

"(Weisselberg's) intent was to benefit himself, not the company."

Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on November 19 that his family received "no economic gain from the acts done by the executive".

Mr Trump, who on November15 announced his third campaign for the presidency, has called the investigation a politically motivated "witch hunt".

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and his predecessor who brought the charges, Cyrus Vance, are Democrats.

Weisselberg, who pleaded guilty in August to concealing $1.76 million in income from tax authorities, testified that Mr Trump signed the Christmas bonus cheques and paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in private school tuition for Weisselberg's grandchildren.

  • On Truth Social, a social media platform founded by Donald Trump after he was banned from Twitter, conversation is often limited to sycophantic memes and conspiratorial memes. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    On Truth Social, a social media platform founded by Donald Trump after he was banned from Twitter, conversation is often limited to sycophantic memes and conspiratorial memes. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Almost all of Mr Trump's followers are die-hard supporters and criticism of the former president is rare. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Almost all of Mr Trump's followers are die-hard supporters and criticism of the former president is rare. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Mr Trump's signature line on 'The Apprentice' was: 'You're Fired!' Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Mr Trump's signature line on 'The Apprentice' was: 'You're Fired!' Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Many memes lionise the former president. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Many memes lionise the former president. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Mr Trump hopes to get a second term in office in 2024. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Mr Trump hopes to get a second term in office in 2024. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • A not-true ReTruth: Trump-backed, election-denying candidate Kari Lake lost to Democrat Katie Dobbs in the Arizona governor race. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    A not-true ReTruth: Trump-backed, election-denying candidate Kari Lake lost to Democrat Katie Dobbs in the Arizona governor race. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Mr Trump suggests voter fraud in the Arizona governor race. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Mr Trump suggests voter fraud in the Arizona governor race. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Mr Trump attacks Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who may be well positioned to duel the former president in the 2024 White House race. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Mr Trump attacks Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who may be well positioned to duel the former president in the 2024 White House race. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Many Maga Republicans miss Mr Trump. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Many Maga Republicans miss Mr Trump. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Mr Trump attacks mail-in ballots that allow millions of Americans who are unable to vote on election day to participate. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Mr Trump attacks mail-in ballots that allow millions of Americans who are unable to vote on election day to participate. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Some of the Trump supporters that stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, used American flags to attack police officers. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Some of the Trump supporters that stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, used American flags to attack police officers. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Supporters credit Mr Trump with not starting any new wars. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Supporters credit Mr Trump with not starting any new wars. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • How many moves in a game of chess? Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    How many moves in a game of chess? Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Another ReTruth. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Another ReTruth. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • The 'Greatest Of All Time'? That remains to be seen. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    The 'Greatest Of All Time'? That remains to be seen. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Mr Trump was expected to announce a new run for the White House on November 15. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Mr Trump was expected to announce a new run for the White House on November 15. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Mr Trump blamed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell for Republicans' poor showing in the midterm elections. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Mr Trump blamed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell for Republicans' poor showing in the midterm elections. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Mr Trump still attracts fierce loyalty from his 'Maga' supporters. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Mr Trump still attracts fierce loyalty from his 'Maga' supporters. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Mr Trump suggests he would perform better than Ron DeSantis. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Mr Trump suggests he would perform better than Ron DeSantis. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • A variation on the election-denying theme. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    A variation on the election-denying theme. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Mr Trump has continued to make his baseless claims of election fraud in races he or his fellow Republicans lost. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Mr Trump has continued to make his baseless claims of election fraud in races he or his fellow Republicans lost. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Another ReTruth. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Another ReTruth. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Mr Trump returns to his debunked claims of widespread election fraud. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Mr Trump returns to his debunked claims of widespread election fraud. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Another teaser for his November 15 announcement. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Another teaser for his November 15 announcement. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Mr Trump 'ReTruths' a message from a follower. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Mr Trump 'ReTruths' a message from a follower. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • The 'legend' will be 78 at the 2024 election, the same age Joe Biden was when he got elected. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    The 'legend' will be 78 at the 2024 election, the same age Joe Biden was when he got elected. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Mr Trump is expected to announce he will run again for president in 2024. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Mr Trump is expected to announce he will run again for president in 2024. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Mr Trump teases his announcement on November 15. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
    Mr Trump teases his announcement on November 15. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social
  • Truth Social is only available in the US, Canada and Brazil. Reuters
    Truth Social is only available in the US, Canada and Brazil. Reuters

He also said Mr Trump's two sons — who took over the company's operations in 2017 after he became president — gave him a raise after they knew about his tax dodge scheme.

"The whole narrative that Donald Trump was blissfully ignorant is just not real," Mr Steinglass said.

The Trump Organisation also said Donald Bender, an outside accountant, should have caught and blown the whistle on Weisselberg's fraud.

The company called Mr Bender as its main witness, but his testimony appeared to backfire when he said he trusted that the information Weisselberg gave him was accurate and that he was under no obligation to investigate further.

Ivana Trump's Manhattan home on sale for $26.5m - in pictures

  • The estate of Ivana Trump has put her six-storey Manhattan townhouse on the market for $26.5 million. All photos: StreetEasy
    The estate of Ivana Trump has put her six-storey Manhattan townhouse on the market for $26.5 million. All photos: StreetEasy
  • Built in 1879, the limestone townhouse features an opulent staircase
    Built in 1879, the limestone townhouse features an opulent staircase
  • According to the estate agent, the dining room is inspired by Versailles and features floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a courtyard
    According to the estate agent, the dining room is inspired by Versailles and features floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a courtyard
  • Ivana Trump redecorated the former dental practice with baroque fittings and furniture in gold and animal print
    Ivana Trump redecorated the former dental practice with baroque fittings and furniture in gold and animal print
  • The living room features a gold-embossed marble fireplace and ornate crown mouldings
    The living room features a gold-embossed marble fireplace and ornate crown mouldings
  • The master bedroom in Ivana Trump's Manhattan home
    The master bedroom in Ivana Trump's Manhattan home
  • The master ensuite features pink Onyx marble and gold fittings
    The master ensuite features pink Onyx marble and gold fittings
  • Ivana Trump's Manhattan home also features a modest home office
    Ivana Trump's Manhattan home also features a modest home office
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