Donald Trump’s real estate companies engaged in “clear and straightforward” tax fraud, according to Manhattan prosecutors.
In her opening argument in New York, Susan Hoffinger, executive assistant district attorney in the Manhattan prosecutor’s office, told jurors they would hear a story of “greed and cheating”. She added that the evidence would show a crime that was orchestrated “at the highest levels” of the former president’s businesses.
The Trump Organization’s legal entities were charged by the Manhattan district attorney last summer with what prosecutors described as a 15-year scheme in which the businesses allegedly compensated senior executives with perks such as luxury cars, rent and school fees that were hidden from authorities.
The Trump Organization’s former chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, pleaded guilty to hiding $1.76m from tax authorities in August.
As part of his plea deal he has agreed to take the stand against his former employer.
Susan Necheles, who is defending one of the Trump businesses, argued that the former executive had acted alone.
The case is separate from the civil lawsuit being brought by New York attorney-general Letitia James, which accuses Trump and his children of repeatedly overstating the value of the Trump Organization’s assets and falsifying business records over at least a decade.
