Donald Trump's Trump Organization Tax Fraud Case Moves Forward as Jury Starts Deliberation

The jury in the tax fraud case involving former president Donald Trump's Trump Organization started their deliberations on Monday upon the instructions of Justice Juan Merchan in New York state court in Manhattan.

Merchan told jurors they must set aside any "bias or prejudice" they may have in "favor of or against Trump and his family." He added that the former president and his family are not on trial before them.

However, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass argued that Trump was aware of the tax fraud scheme inside his Trump Organization.

Steinglass made the argument as a counter to the defense's claims that Allen Weisselberg, the company's former chief financial officer, sought only to "benefit himself" and hid his wrongdoing from the Trump family.

The prosecutor addressed the jury and said that the narrative that the former president did not know what was happening "is just not real."

The jury deliberated for four hours before sending a note to the judge asking for clarification on one of the charges. The deliberations are set to continue on Tuesday.

Donald Trump on the Tax Fraud Case

Steinglass said that Trump sanctioned and acknowledged the tax fraud scheme, to which Merchan agreed.

The judge noted that the prosecutor made out "a fair argument" on why it is necessary to bring up the name of the former president. Merchan added that he did not think that it was "gratuitous."

Meanwhile, Weisselberg spent several days on the stand testifying about the scheme, along with two witnesses who received immunity before grand jury proceedings.

They described several methods used by Trump Organization executives to avoid taxes and payroll liability through large bonuses and luxury benefits.

Meanwhile, one defense attorney, Michael van der Veen, asked for a trial, arguing that Trump was "invoked too frequently" by the prosecutor during his closing.

Merchan declined the defense's request.

Meanwhile, Trump called the charges against his company "politically motivated."

Trump Organization's Tax Fraud Case

Two Trump Organization entities were charged with tax fraud and falsifying business records in what prosecutors accuse was a 15-year scheme to defraud authorities by failing to report and pay taxes.

Weisselberg and other executives were compensated under the table with several perks such as his Manhattan apartment, tuition for his grandchildren, his leased Mercedes-Benzes, and his cable bill.

Weisselberg said at one point that other employers received luxury cards.

The former chief financial officer also recalled one time when he was in Trump's office years ago. The former president was complaining about the expense of his grandchildren's tuition.

Trump reportedly told Weisselberg half-jokingly that if he has to pay "more in the way of tuition bills for these kids, I may as well pay for" Weisselberg's grandkids' tuition.

Weisselberg then walked back into Trump's office with an invoice for the tuition. Trump was paying for it then.

He testified that he could repay Trump, but he never did.

READ MORE: Nancy Pelosi, Kevin McCarthy Urged in a Letter to Pass Bill on Stock Ban Among Congress Members

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Tax fraud case against Trump Organization to head to jury Monday | GMA - from ABC News