A Manhattan jury has found two Trump Organization companies guilty on multiple charges of criminal tax fraud and falsifying business records. Watch full video to know more.

Trump Organization found guilty on all charges in tax fraud scheme

As the criminal trial of Donald Trump's real estate company nears its end, defence lawyer Susan Necheles told&nbsp;the 12-member jury in a New York state court in Manhattan that the former US president knew nothing about a greedy former senior executive's years-long tax fraud. "We are here today because of one reason and one reason only - the greed of Allen Weisselberg," Necheles said. "The purpose of Mr. Weisselberg's crimes was to benefit Mr. Weisselberg."

Weisselberg had earlier pleaded guilty to tax fraud and other charges under an agreement with prosecutors, and is expected to serve five months in jail.

She also said that Donald Bender, an accountant with the firm Mazars USA, did not pay heed to Weisselberg's wrongdoing and chose to stay silent.&nbsp;

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"President Trump relied on Mazars, he relied on Donald Bender to be the watchdog," Necheles said. "Bender failed."

Closing arguments by the prosecutors in the case are expected to be delivered on Thursday afternoon and Friday, with jury deliberations beginning on Monday.

The entire matter revolved around the Trump Organization which was charged in July 2021 with paying personal expenses for some executives without reporting the income. The were also compensated as if they were independent contractors, in a 15-year scheme to cheat tax authorities.

The prosecutors need to prove that Weisselberg and other executives acted as "high managerial agents" of the company when they carried out tax fraud, and that they intended to benefit the company in some way.

If convicted on all nine counts it faces, the company faces up to $1.6 million in fines. Trump, however, has not been charged.

Weisselberg had earlier testified his greed motivated him to cheat on taxes, and described the company's modest payroll tax savings as a "byproduct." He also said that he improperly received bonus payments as non-employee compensation. Other payments from the company, &nbsp;such as his rent, car leases and other personal expenses were hid from tax authorities.&nbsp;

Necheles told jurors, "The issue here is not whether as a byproduct the company saved some money...You see what he said. His intent was to benefit himself, not the company."

Meanwhile, Bender, who was the main defence witness, testified that he trusted Weisselberg to give him accurate financial information for the company's tax returns, and had no obligation to investigate further. Mazars cut ties with the Trump Organization in February.

(With inputs from agencies)

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As the criminal trial of Donald Trump's real estate company nears its end, defence lawyer Susan Necheles told the 12-member jury in a New York state court in Manhattan that the former US president knew nothing about a greedy former senior executive's years-long tax fraud.

As the criminal trial of Donald Trump's real estate company nears its end, defence lawyer Susan Necheles told the 12-member jury in a New York state court in Manhattan that the former US president knew nothing about a greedy former senior executive's years-long tax fraud. "We are here today because of one reason and one reason only - the greed of Allen Weisselberg," Necheles said. "The purpose of Mr. Weisselberg's crimes was to benefit Mr. Weisselberg." Weisselberg had earlier pleaded guilty to tax fraud and other charges under an agreement with prosecutors, and is expected to serve five months in jail. She also said that Donald Bender, an accountant with the firm Mazars USA, did not pay heed to Weisselberg's wrongdoing and chose to stay silent. Also Read | IRS releases Donald Trump's tax records to House Committee "President Trump relied on Mazars, he relied on Donald Bender to be the watchdog," Necheles said. "Bender failed." Closing arguments by the prosecutors in the case are expected to be delivered on Thursday afternoon and Friday, with jury deliberations beginning on Monday. The entire matter revolved around the Trump Organization which was charged in July 2021 with paying personal expenses for some executives without reporting the income. The were also compensated as if they were independent contractors, in a 15-year scheme to cheat tax authorities. The prosecutors need to prove that Weisselberg and other executives acted as "high managerial agents" of the company when they carried out tax fraud, and that they intended to benefit the company in some way. If convicted on all nine counts it faces, the company faces up to $1.6 million in fines. Trump, however, has not been charged. Weisselberg had earlier testified his greed motivated him to cheat on taxes, and described the company's modest payroll tax savings as a "byproduct." He also said that he improperly received bonus payments as non-employee compensation. Other payments from the company, such as his rent, car leases and other personal expenses were hid from tax authorities. Necheles told jurors, "The issue here is not whether as a byproduct the company saved some money...You see what he said. His intent was to benefit himself, not the company." Meanwhile, Bender, who was the main defence witness, testified that he trusted Weisselberg to give him accurate financial information for the company's tax returns, and had no obligation to investigate further. Mazars cut ties with the Trump Organization in February. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Trump's defence lawyer tells jurors he was unaware of tax fraud at his company

Former US president <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a> moved Wednesday to block the Treasury from handing over years of his tax records to a congressional committee, which some believe could expose abuse of tax laws.

In a Washington court filing Trump's lawyers objected to a Justice Department order last week that the Treasury, after stalling for years, needed to provide the House Ways and Means Committee with six years of records that Trump has long refused to make public.

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The lawyers argue that while the committee claims to be investigating how the Internal Revenue Service handles cases like Trump's -- the former president said for years that his taxes were under audit -- in fact the request is driven by politics.

The aim of the Democratic-controlled panel, the filing says, "is to expose the private tax information of one individual -- President Trump -- for political gain."

"The requests single out President Trump because he is a Republican and a political opponent," it adds.

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"They were made to retaliate against President Trump because of his policy positions, his political beliefs and his protected speech, including the positions he took during the 2016 and 2020 campaigns," it said.

The US Justice Department ordered the Treasury on Friday to hand Trump's tax records to the committee, which subpoenaed them in 2019.

Committee chairman Richard Neal had argued that his members needed the returns to understand how the IRS conducts its presidential audits and whether Trump had exerted "undue influence" over the agency.

Trump claimed for years that he could not make the records public because they were under audit, and when he was president, the Republican-controlled Treasury and Justice Department sided with him on the issue.

Both departments are now led by Democrats, and the Justice Department argued last week that the committee had a legitimate interest in seeing Trump's records.

Some suspect that the records would show the billionaire property tycoon manipulated the tax code to pay very little over a long period.

Trump is under investigation in New York for tax fraud and other wrongdoings relating to the financial activities of his Trump Organization.

In February the Supreme Court declined to block a subpoena of Trump's taxes by a New York prosecutors.

All US presidents since Richard Nixon, who took office in 1969, have made public their tax and asset records.

Former US president Donald Trump moved Wednesday to block the Treasury from handing over years of his tax records to a congressional committee, which some believe could expose abuse of tax laws.

Former US president Donald Trump moved Wednesday to block the Treasury from handing over years of his tax records to a congressional committee, which some believe could expose abuse of tax laws. In a Washington court filing Trump's lawyers objected to a Justice Department order last week that the Treasury, after stalling for years, needed to provide the House Ways and Means Committee with six years of records that Trump has long refused to make public. Also read | Former US president Donald Trump's fundraising initiatives raise $100 million The lawyers argue that while the committee claims to be investigating how the Internal Revenue Service handles cases like Trump's -- the former president said for years that his taxes were under audit -- in fact the request is driven by politics. The aim of the Democratic-controlled panel, the filing says, "is to expose the private tax information of one individual -- President Trump -- for political gain." "The requests single out President Trump because he is a Republican and a political opponent," it adds. Also read | US DoJ orders IRS to hand over Trump’s tax returns to a House panel "They were made to retaliate against President Trump because of his policy positions, his political beliefs and his protected speech, including the positions he took during the 2016 and 2020 campaigns," it said. The US Justice Department ordered the Treasury on Friday to hand Trump's tax records to the committee, which subpoenaed them in 2019. Committee chairman Richard Neal had argued that his members needed the returns to understand how the IRS conducts its presidential audits and whether Trump had exerted "undue influence" over the agency. Trump claimed for years that he could not make the records public because they were under audit, and when he was president, the Republican-controlled Treasury and Justice Department sided with him on the issue. Both departments are now led by Democrats, and the Justice Department argued last week that the committee had a legitimate interest in seeing Trump's records. Some suspect that the records would show the billionaire property tycoon manipulated the tax code to pay very little over a long period. Trump is under investigation in New York for tax fraud and other wrongdoings relating to the financial activities of his Trump Organization. In February the Supreme Court declined to block a subpoena of Trump's taxes by a New York prosecutors. All US presidents since Richard Nixon, who took office in 1969, have made public their tax and asset records.

Trump moves to block Congress from getting his taxes

The prosecutor is investigating hush payments made to two women who allege they had affairs with Trump and possible fraud.

New York prosecutor obtain Donald Trump's tax records

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trump tax-fraud

Trump Organization found guilty on all charges in tax fraud scheme

Trump's defence lawyer tells jurors he was unaware of tax fraud at his company

Trump moves to block Congress from getting his taxes

New York prosecutor obtain Donald Trump's tax records