On Tuesday, a Manhattan jury found two Trump Organization companies guilty of charges of document forgery and tax fraud.
The firms were charged with 17 counts related to a scheme allegedly hatched by senior executives of the companies. Trump Corp. and Trump Payroll Corp. to avoid paying taxes and hide payments.
The companies could now face a maximum fine of $1.6 million. However, a spokesperson for the organization explained that the verdict will be appealed on the grounds that it is "absurd" for a company to be liable for actions used by an employee for personal gain.
Allen Weisselberg, former chief financial officer of the Trump Organization, pleaded guilty to manipulating the company's books, as well as its compensation package, to reduce its taxes.
Weisselberg explained that he and Jeffrey McConney, senior vice president, conspired to keep his income manipulations a secret.
To achieve this ruling, New York prosecutors decided to use the testimony of the former chief financial officer and build a case against the companies. With this goal in mind, the agents decided it was best to convince the jury that both employees acted on behalf of the company.
"Mr. Weisselberg testified under oath that he 'betrayed' the trust the company had placed in him and that he, at all times, acted 'solely' for his 'own personal gain' and out of his 'own personal greed," the spokesman said, adding that this was an "unprecedented and legally incorrect" case.
The spokesman is not the only one who considered this decision to be unfair. Renowned actor Terrence K. Williams added his two cents and tweeted about it.
The Trump Organization was wrongfully convicted by a liberal Judge and Jury.
President Trump and his family were not charged in this Witch Hunt Case.
He’s not going to Jail. Try again.
I stand with President Trump.
Who’s with me ✋ pic.twitter.com/I2FPJ6sSJX— Terrence K. Williams (@w_terrence) December 6, 2022
Writer Joel Pollak also criticized the decision and highlighted that the prosecution against the Trump Organization was very selective.
Selective prosecution: Trump organization convicted of tax fraud over employee perks. Meanwhile, the @JoeBiden family crime operation continues to operate. Unlike Trump, who actually provided something of value, Biden and his family sold access and influence to foreign interests.
— Joel Pollak (@joelpollak) December 6, 2022
"Witch hunt" against Trump
Prosecutors sought to extend liability to Trump by claiming that the former president "knew exactly what was going on."
Because of this and the various investigations that New York prosecutors have been conducting for several years, Donald Trump wanted to make his opinion known that the whole case is part of a political "witch hunt" being waged against him.
It is important to note that Alvin Bragg, a Democratic prosecutor who took office in January, stated that an investigation into Trump's alleged deception of banks and other entities about the value of his properties is already "active and ongoing."
Previously, District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. ordered his agents to present evidence in an attempt to indict Trump, but it was not until recently that Bragg announced that he had hired a new prosecutor to focus on the matter.
