For years, as Donald Trump rose from reality stardom to the White House, his real estate empire funded lavish perks for some of his most trusted senior staff, including apartments and luxury cars. Now, Trump’s company, the Trump Organization, is on trial this week for criminal tax fraud — on the hook for what prosecutors say was a 15-year scheme by top officials to hide the plums and avoid paying taxes. Opening statements and the first witnesses are expected Monday in New York. Last week, 12 jurors and six alternates were selected for the case, the only criminal trial to emerge from the Manhattan district attorney’s three-year investigation into the former president. Among the key prosecution witnesses: Trump’s longtime finance chief Allen Weiselberg, who pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against the company in exchange for a five-month prison sentence. If convicted, the Trump Organization could be fined more than $1 million and face difficulties securing new loans and deals. Some partners and government entities could seek to sever ties with the company. It could also hamper its ability to do business with the US Secret Service, which sometimes pays the company for lodging and services while protecting Trump as a former president. Neither Trump nor any of his children who have worked as Trump Organization executives have been charged or accused of wrongdoing. Trump is not expected to testify or even attend the trial. Prosecutors said they don’t need to prove Trump knew about the scheme to be convicted and that the case is “not about Donald Trump.” But a defense attorney, William J. Brennan said that even if he is not physically there, Trump is “Always present, like the fog in the room.” That’s because Trump is synonymous with the Trump Organization, the entity through which he manages his many ventures, including his investments in golf courses, luxury towers and other real estate, his many marketing deals and television pursuits. Trump signed some of the checks at the center of the case. His name appears in memoranda and other company documents. Witnesses could testify about conversations they had with Trump. They are even expected to enter Trump’s personal ledgers as evidence. Prosecutors say the Trump Organization — through its Trump Corp. and Trump Payroll Corp. – is partly to blame because the former Weisselberg was a “senior management agent” entrusted with acting on behalf of the company and its various entities. The Trump Organization said it did nothing wrong. The company’s lawyers argue that Weisselberg and other executives acted alone and that, if anything, their actions hurt the company financially. Weiselberg, who pleaded guilty to $1.7 million in restitution, blamed himself and other top Trump Organization officials, including senior vice president and controller Jeffrey McConey. But he disputed the idea that the company suffered a loss, saying the perks actually saved the company money because it avoided having to give raises. Prosecutors said they expect to call 15 witnesses, including Weisselberg and McConney, who were granted limited immunity to testify before a grand jury last year. Judge Juan Manuel Merchan expects the trial to last at least four weeks, although a defense lawyer estimated last week that the prosecution’s case alone could continue for two months. The court will sit for a full day on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and for a half day on Friday. The trial is adjourned on Wednesday so the judge can attend to other matters.
