NY prosecutors to indict Trump Org insider - but not Trump, sources say

Reuters ^ | June 29, 2021 | Joseph Tanfani, Peter Eisler

[HippyLoggerBiker]

WASHINGTON, June 28 (Reuters) - New York prosecutors investigating former U.S. President Donald Trump's business practices are likely to issue one or more criminal indictments this week – but not against Trump himself, according to people involved in the case.

Ronald Fischetti, an attorney representing Trump, said on Monday that based on discussions with prosecutors he expects “no charges” will be brought against Trump in the initial round of indictments. Others familiar with the case said prosecutors are preparing criminal charges against Allen Weisselberg, longtime chief financial officer for the Trump Organization, and also are considering criminal charges against the company.

After an almost three-year investigation of Trump’s property dealings, the initial charges by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr will focus mainly on whether Weisselberg and other company officials received corporate perks and benefits, such as rent-free apartments and leased cars, that were not reported properly on their tax returns, according to several people familiar with the investigation. The exact charges prosecutors are preparing are not known

[1Old Pro]

A nothing burger that the media will put lipstick on.

[Jeff Chandler]

You can put lipstick on a nothing burger, but nothing from nothing leaves nothing.

[DannyTN]

1. The company wouldn't have gotten this much scrutiny if they weren't going after Trump.
2. It's well known that if you give benefits such as an apartment or a car, that the company providing the benefit must report that as income to the person receiving it.
3. Their may be some exceptions, and if so, then the company may have a defense.
4. I don't know, but I don't think it's normal to charge the CFO of a company with criminal charges when a tax issue like this is found. I "think" the IRS usually just makes the company fix it, and maybe charges a penalty for getting it wrong in the first place.

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

Think of the FBI and Michael Flynn set-up, entrapment, in order to get to Trump.
Same scenario, different agency with the same mentality.
"Show me the man,.. and I'll show you a crime".
This set-up is nothing more than political revenge,.. again !.. and again !

[ckilmer]

They’re hoping to squeeze the underlings to rat on the boss.

Problem is Trump employees have nothing to hide and they love their boss.

So this action is lot of sound and fury that signifies only that Trump’s enemies—and the enemies of America— are still looking for ways to destroy him.

[PGR88]

They probably found a manager who expensed a business trip when it was actually a family vacation.

[Little Ray]

I knew this was going to happen.
President Trump probably can’t be indicted.
The poor guy has been continuously investigated since he announced he was running for president as a Republican. IF they could find anything he would already be charged.
But this doesn’t mean they can’t go after the people around him. Given the vague, broadly written laws Congress inflicts on us, almost everyone who does anything constructive is probably breaking the law every day. Any witch hunt will eventually turn something up. If nothing else they can try for a kafka trap.

[blackdog]

My employer maintains a dozen condos close by to house the privileged managers. They live in them for years. No 1099's. Paid for car leases, cell phones, wireless, etc... They dine out every evening or have food delivered.

Someone had better tell Cyrus Vance Jr.

[dfwgator]

The last thing they want is to actually bring Trump himself to trial, because it will expose them.

Rather they would rather get somebody loosely associated with Trump, it’s all about keeping the narrative going.

[ScubaDiver]

It’s actually pretty common for executives in the building and REIT industries to get property/condos and whatnot as part of their executive compensation package. If it’s true that they received these perks but the organization didn’t report it, the only thing that’s surprising is that it wasn’t caught by government auditors before this. Having been a principle of a company that was audited, I can tell you that they scour the Executive T/E and benefit packages thoroughly.

I would be curious what percentage of these kinds of cases end up being resolved with a criminal indictment. I bet it’s not too often. Also, why haven’t the feds indicted as well? Very peculiar.

[Steely Tom]

Rather they would rather get somebody loosely associated with Trump, it’s all about keeping the narrative going.

Also it makes recruiting good people more difficult for his organization.

[The Free Engineer]

The most investigated person ever.

The man owned casinos, which requires an anal exam.

Then investigated for years before and while President. Then again ongoing afterwords.

AND THEY CAN’T FIND ANYTHING.

HE IS SQUEAKY CLEAN.

But they are so sure there must be something there...

They see a big pile of money, “It must have been stolen” they think and rich people... Because all their friends got rich that way I suppose.

[sport]

Yes, they are. And they will, if necessary, make up a lie.

[Erik Latranyi]

Just as the NY “Human Rights Commission” hit Fox News with a $1 million fine.

The Politburo will use every agency to attack and destroy its political enemies.

[dfwgator]

They know going after Trump directly would only benefit Trump.

[Don Corleone]

I’m surprised they have not served a summons on Melania or Baron.

[ScubaDiver]

Fringe benefits such as corporate housing aren’t reported on 1099s. They’re reported on the W2, I think on boxes 1,3 and 5.

[Alberta's Child]

I'm not totally clear on the nuances of tax law, but I've always been under the impression that the property does not have to be documented as "constructive receipt of income" if it is not the primary address of the person living there. So if the CFO of the Trump Organization already has a home somewhere in the NYC area, and he was given the use of an apartment for business travel while he was working long hours in the city, then I'm not so sure it's legally considered a taxable benefit for him.

If you think about it, it's no different than booking a hotel on a business trip and having the company pay the cost of the trip.

[hsmomx3]

Some woman was on one of the lib networks who said she has worked for the organization for over 15 years and that DJT is a liar and deserves to be jailed. For what, she didn’t say.

I also saw some news clip of the ex daughter-in-law of this CFO lastnight who claimed to be giving the grand jury/lawyers information to indict DJT. Didn’t sound like she was an employee and she hopes her ex father-in-law flips and starts talking.