Trump Organization Tax Fraud Trial Begins; Defense Plans To Steer Blame Away from Former President

The Trump Organization tax fraud trial begins in New York as the defense team is planning to steer the blame away from the former president, prosecutors claim.

The defense team has already given their opening statements in the case as former United States President Donald Trump's company was charged with tax fraud in July 2021. The case was over allegations that the company helped executives cheat their own taxes.

Trump Organization Tax Fraud Trial

The case has been one of many legal challenges that the 76-year-old Republican businessman is facing as he teases a potential 2024 presidential run. Despite charging the Trump Organization, the case did not file criminal charges against the former president himself.

Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger made her opening statement when she said that Trump's real estate company cheated tax authorities for one and a half decades. Hoffinger argued that the Trump Organization paid certain executives, including former chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg, in perks, including rent and cars without reporting the benefits to tax officials, as per ABC.net.

The prosecutor added that the company's officials also falsely reported the bonuses as non-employee compensation. Hoffinger told the court that the case was about greed and cheating on taxes. She argued that the scheme was conducted, directed, and authorized at the highest levels of the accounting department at the company.

Hoffinger added that when Trump was elected as the president of the United States in 2016, Weisselberg and the Trump Organization "had to clean up these fraudulent tax practices" due to concerns about additional scrutiny.

According to Politico, Hoffinger, who is the chief of investigations for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, detailed in her opening statements that Trump personally paid private school tuition for Weisselberg's grandchildren and also signed a lease for the top lieutenant's Upper West Side apartment that was overlooking the Hudson River.

Steer Blame Away From Trump Family

On the other hand, attorney Susan Necheles for Trump Corp. tried to insulate the former president and urged jurors not to let their opinions of the former president cloud their judgment. She said that the jury must not consider the tax fraud case to be a referendum on the former president or his politics, laying the blame on Weisselberg.

In August, Weisselberg pleaded guilty to all 15 counts that he was charged with, including tax fraud and larceny. Now, he is expected to play the role of a star witness in the expected month-long trial where prosecutors must convince a jury that Trump Org. units, the Trump Corporation and Trump Payroll Corporation, share responsibility for concealing $1.76 million in compensation.

Necheles argued that Weisselberg only confessed to avoid a lengthy prison sentence that would have been handed to him. If he maintains his plea deal, he is expected to be sentenced to only five months on Rikers Island but could face up to 15 years if he violates his agreement.

Michael van der Veen, another Trump Org. attorney, made his opening statements where he repeated "Weisselberg did it for Weisselberg" no fewer than four times. He likened Weisselberg to a "prodigal son" whose greedy scheming resulted in him betraying his "family," which was the Trump family, Business Insider reported.