Donald Trump's Company 'Cheated' Tax Authorities, Prosecutors Alleged at a Trial

Donald Trump's Trump Organization has been alleged to have cheated tax authorities for 15 years, according to a prosecutor during her opening statement at a tax fraud trial.

Reuters reported that defense lawyers argued that the Trump Organization's longtime chief financial officer had acted for his own benefit.

Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger said at a tax fraud trial that Trump Organization paid certain executives perks such as rent and cars without reporting those benefits to tax authorities.

Hoffinger added that the company also falsely reported bonuses as non-employee compensation.

CFO Allen Weisselberg also enjoyed those perks.

Hoffinger said in her opening statement that the tax fraud case is "about greed and cheating, cheating on taxes."

She added that the scheme was done, "directed, and authorized" at the highest levels of the accounting department at the company.

Trump Organization units, which are the Trump Corporation and the Trump Payroll Corporation, have pleaded not guilty to the allegations.

A lawyer for the Trump Payroll Corporation noted in his opening statement that "Weisselberg did it for Weisselberg."

Hoffinger argued that Weisselberg was "a prime beneficiary" of the scheme, but that he acted as a Trump Organization executive.

Trump Organization Tax Fraud Trial

The case revealed that the company paid Weisselberg's apartment, cars, and grandchildren's school tuition.

The chief financial officer has pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against the company in exchange for a five-month jail sentence.

Aside from him, Weisselberg's son and another Trump Organization executive were also accused of getting "off-the-books compensation."

Twelve jurors and six alternates were picked last week for the case. However, one alternate was dismissed on Monday.

Meanwhile, the former president has not been charged with any wrongdoing, but noted that the investigation into the company he has led for decades was a politically motivated "witch hunt."

Acting New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan told potential jurors that Trump and his three oldest children-Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, and Eric Trump-could be called as witnesses.

Weisselberg will also be testifying in the case and has agreed to pay around $2 million in taxes as part of his plea deal, NBC News reported.

Trump Organization Tax Fraud Case

The first witness had taken the stand in the trial. It was the Trump Corporation's controller, Jeffrey S. McConney.

He had admitted that he had met recently with defense lawyers but not with prosecutors. This prompted prosecutor Joshua Steinglass to ask Judge Merchan to treat him as a hostile or adverse witness, which the latter denied.

The case was rooted in an indictment unsealed in July 2021 that accused Weisselberg and two Trump corporations of running a 15-year-scheme, wherein they benefited from lavish off-the-books perks.

The New York Times noted that Trump's family business will not pay more than $1.7 million if convicted of tax fraud and other crimes at its trial.

However, a guilty verdict might scare off possible lenders and business partners, or call for a stricter term on Trump.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Trump Organization faces criminal tax fraud trial over perks given to executives - from 10 Tampa Bay