Trump Organization Chief Financial 0fficer Allen Weisselberg returned to court Monday for a hearing on his tax evasion charges, as his lawyer said there is 'strong reason to believe' more indictments are coming in a New York investigation into the former president's property empire.
Weisselberg, who has been employed by the Trump family for almost five decades, appeared at the New York State Court in Manhattan along with his attorney Bryan Scarlatos.
In July, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr charged the Trump Organization and Weisselberg with a 15-count indictment on tax crimes.
Weisselberg, 74, is accused of assisting the organization in defrauding taxpayers for over 15 years by paying executive employees with untaxed benefits and taking for himself $1.7million worth of 'indirect compensation' without alerting tax authorities.
'We have strong reason to believe there could be other indictments coming,' said Scarlatos. 'Mr Weisselberg is separate from the Trump Organization. He is the only individual here whose liberty is at stake.
'What I am concerned about is that he will become collateral damage in a larger fight between the Trump Organization and the DA's office.'
Allen Weisselberg, who has been employed by the Trump family for almost five decades, appeared at the New York State Court in Manhattan along with his attorney Bryan Scarlatos
The Trump Organization's Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg appears in State Supreme Court in Manhattan on Monday
Weisselberg has pleaded not guilty to charges he collected more than $1.7 million in off-the-books compensation, including apartment rent, car payments and school tuition
After the hearing Weisselburg and his entourage was forced to wait for about 10 minutes in front of the courthosue for his car to arrive
Allen Weisselberg waits as his security call for his car after departing Manhattan Criminal Courthouse. 'What I am concerned about is that he will become collateral damage in a larger fight between the Trump Organization and the DA's office,' said Weisselberg's lawyer
The lawyer raised the issue of more possible indictments while arguing for adequate time to review up to six million pages of documents he said prosecutors are turning over as evidence, calling it 'a Herculean task' and saying new indictments would create a 'moving target'.
Prosecutors said Weisselberg is 'no stranger' to many of the documents because they include Trump Organization's business records that the executive is likely to have produced or reviewed as part of his job.
Judge Juan Manuel Merchan gave both sides until next spring to file motions in the case. He said he would decide on motions at a July 12 hearing, the next time Weisselberg is due in court.
His trial is expected to take place in late August or early September next year.
Weisselberg's most serious charged offense, grand larceny, carries five to 15 years in prison. He was removed as officer of several subsidiaries of the company shortly after he was indicted, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Donald Trump, who has not been charged in the case, said that the charges against his organization and former CFO are politically motivated.
Weisselberg's lawyer said there is 'strong reason to believe' more indictments are coming in a New York investigation into the former president's property empire
The lawyer argued for adequate time to review up to six million pages of documents he said prosecutors are turning over as evidence
Prosecutors said Weisselberg is 'no stranger' to many of the documents because they include Trump Organisation business records that the executive is likely to have produced or reviewed as part of his job
Donald Trump's company and its longtime finance chief were charged Thursday in what a prosecutor called a "sweeping and audacious" tax fraud scheme
Vance's office has been working relentlessly for over two years to seize the Trump Organization's tax records, with Trump blocking Vance's attempts several times. FILE PHOTO- Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. arrives at his office on July 1, 2021
He said his company's actions were standard practice in the business and in no way a crime.
'The political Witch Hunt by the Radical Left Democrats, with New York now taking over the assignment, continues. It is dividing our Country like never
