Allen Weisselberg, CFO of the Trump Organization.
Timothy A. Clary | AFP | Getty Images
Although the Trump organization is being charged as a company in the case, Trump himself is not being charged personally. The company faces possible fines and other sanctions if convicted.
The Trump Organization, shortly after Weisselberg blew up Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance Jr., shortly after Weisselberg surrendered.
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A company spokesman said in a statement: “Allen Weisselberg is a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather who worked for the Trump Organization for 48 years.”
“He is now being used by the Manhattan District Attorney as a pawn in a scorched earth attempt to harm the former president,” the spokesman said.
“The district attorney is bringing a criminal prosecution with employee benefits that neither the IRS nor any other district attorney would ever think of. This is not justice, this is politics.”
Vance’s office has been investigating the Trump organization on various issues for several years.
These include how the company was responsible for a hush money payment made by Trump’s former personal attorney Michael Cohen to pornstar Stormy Daniels, claims by Cohen that the company misrepresented real estate values in order to fraudulently gain financial advantage, and Ask if the Trump organization paid taxes on services like homes and cars that are used by employees.
Trump, a Republican, has called Vance’s investigation a politically motivated witch hunt for years. Both Vance and James are Democrats.
The charges against Weißelberg and the Trump organization are unlikely to end the investigation against the company and the former president.
Both Cohen and Weisselberg’s ex-daughter-in-law Jennifer Weisselberg cooperated in the investigation.