Jury selection concludes in Trump company's criminal tax fraud trial

Crown Equity Holdings

28/10/2022 19:22

By Luc Cohen
       NEW YORK, Oct 28 (Reuters) - Jury selection concluded on
Friday for the Trump Organization's criminal trial in New York
on charges of running a 15-year tax fraud scheme, setting the
stage for opening statements on Monday.
    The Manhattan district attorney's office last year charged
the former president's company and its longtime chief financial
officer, Allen Weisselberg, with awarding "off the books"
benefits to some senior executives, enabling certain employees
to understate their taxable compensation and the company to
evade payroll taxes. 
    Justice Juan Merchan in state court in Manhattan on Friday
swore in the six alternate jurors, who will take over in case
any of the 12 jurors become unable to serve. The 12 were
selected earlier this week. 
    Weisselberg in August pleaded guilty to charges including
grand larceny and tax fraud while admitting to concealing $1.76
million in income. Weisselberg agreed to testify against the
company at trial as part of his plea agreement.
    The Trump Organization, which operates hotels, golf courses
and other real estate around the world, could face up to $1.6
million in fines for the three tax fraud counts and six other
counts it faces. The company has pleaded not guilty.
    Trump himself is not charged in the case, but has called the
prosecution politically motivated.
 (Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York
Editing by Alistair Bell)
 ((luc.cohen@thomsonreuters.com; +1 646 361 1622; Reuters
Messaging: Twitter: @cohenluc))