The Manhattan District Attorney’s office might file criminal charges against the Trump Organization as early as next week, according to The New York Times.
Prosectors met with Donald Trump’s lawyers on Thursday and notified them of the possibility. Allen Weisselberg, the business’s Chief Financial Officer, has been at the center of a tax probe for months. Investigators believe he received fringe benefits – like tuition money for family members – without paying the appropriate taxes. They’re also examining if he played a role in directing hush money towards Stormy Daniels, the porn star that had an affair with Trump.
An indictment of Weisselberg has been widely anticipated for months. But charging the Trump Organization would be a provocative move. The New York Times explains:
It would be highly unusual to indict a company just for failing to pay taxes on fringe benefits, said several lawyers who specialize in tax rules. None of them could cite any recent example, noting that many companies provide their employees with perks like company cars.
Still, an indictment of Mr. Trump’s company could deal a significant blow to the former president just as he has flirted with a return to politics.
It’s unclear if Trump himself might be the subject of criminal charges, but targeting his business can be impactful. More from The New York Times:
In the coming days, Mr. Trump’s lawyers might still argue that any charges against the company could take a serious financial toll. Criminal charges, even against private companies like the Trump Organization, can threaten reputations and relationships with banks and business partners.
Prosecutors are aggressively pursuing Weisselberg in hopes that he might flip on Trump. He’s been one of the former president’s most trusted confidants for decades. In the book “Think Like a Billionaire,” Trump credited Weisselberg for doing “whatever was necessary to protect the bottom line.”
