Donald Trump’s businesses have been found guilty of running a 13-year tax fraud scheme, in a significant victory for Manhattan prosecutors who pursued the only criminal case against the former US president’s empire even as he launched a third bid for the White House.
A New York jury on Tuesday convicted The Trump Organization — whose entities had been charged with illegally reducing the tax it paid on executive pay by awarding top managers “off the books” perks — on all 17 counts following a trial that began October 31.
“The former president’s companies now stand convicted of crimes. That is consequential, it underscores that in Manhattan we have standard of justice for all,” Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg told reporters immediately after the unanimous verdict.