Trump Organization, CFO Charged with 15-Year Tax Fraud

Rabat – Former US President, Donald Trump, faces criminal charges for “tax fraud” that could limit his political ambitions ahead of the 2024 US presidential bid.

The Trump Organization, along with Chief Financial Officer, Allen Weisselberg, was found guilty this Thursday of a 15-year “alleged” tax scheme.

The charges are the result of a Manhattan District Attorney’s investigation into Donald Trump’s business activities and company’s records.

The Investigators of the Manhattan District Attorney’s investigation have been looking into bank and financial fraud charges regarding the Trump administration, along with the New York Attorney General.

Although President Donal Trump was not convicted yet, CFO Allen Weisselberg was accused of tax evasion for the unreported 1.7 million in untaxed income connected to rent and related expenses.

Additionally, Weisselberg allegedly received $359,058 in tuition expenses paid for by checks from Trump’s account, and then from Donald J. Trump revocable trust fund for the schooling of two of his grandchildren.

Allen Weisselberg has been serving the Trump family for over 50 years and is the family’s trusted and loyal Financial Advisor.

The initial charges and investigation into Trump’s business focus on taxes and financial fraud could eventually lead to subsequent findings.

They were charged with schemes to defraud, conspiracy, criminal tax fraud, and falsifying business records. Weisselberg was also charged with grand larceny and offering a false instrument for filing.

Trump already faces several legal entanglements, including defamation lawsuits, and two ongoing sexual harassment lawsuits among 26 sexual misconduct allegations.

The former US President also holds the historical record of being the only US President whom the House of Representatives impeached twice.

Despite his record, the ex-president is still considering the prospect of running again for elections in 2024. Still, his numerous political and recent financial scandals seem to indicate that his hopes might be squandered.

The criminal charges he is facing threaten to damage his political reputation forever. He could also face a trial if he eventually decides to run for the presidential elections.

Details of the investigation seem to indicate that Trump is facing serious legal problems that will substantially infringe on the future of his political life.

In response to the criminal investigations charges, the Trump administration has once again resorted to its populist discourse calling the investigation “political” and describing it as a “witch-hunt” aimed at scorching the former president’s reputation.

Political analysts have argued that regardless of whether Trump is found guilty and charged with wrongdoings, his loyalists will still support him because of his influence inside the republican party and his ability to hypnotize the masses with his populist right-wing rhetorics.

Trump is a champion of racist politics. The larger number of Trump’s supporters feeds off this kind of politics, explaining why the current charges might not undermine Trump’s popularity.

He may continue victimizing himself by appealing to his supporters, who believe the system is rigged against them.

A similar scenario occurred when Trump called on “alleged voter fraud” in the 2020 presidential elections in November.

According to the Guardian, the harm depends on the nature of Trump’s charges after the investigation. If it is scamming and luring people, such as in the case of Trump University, the case will bring a lot of attention and controversy.

In this case, support for Trump could falter, according to Samuel Popkin, a research Professor at the University of California San Diego.