Trump Org lawyers make last pitch against prosecution – KIRO 7 News Seattle

NEW YORK – (AP) – Attorneys for the Trump Organization met with prosecutors at the Manhattan Attorney’s Office again on Monday to anticipate a possible charge based on a long-standing investigation into the former president’s company.

Trump Organization attorney Ron Fischetti told The Associated Press that the meeting came as a grand jury neared a vote on an indictment this week after more than two years of investigating Trump’s business affairs.

He said prosecutors told him that Trump would not be charged even at this point – “at least not with what comes this week” – but added that the investigation is ongoing.

“There are no charges against the former president this week,” Fischetti said in a telephone interview on Monday. “I can’t say yet that he’s not quite out of the woods yet.”

The Manhattan Attorney’s Office declined to comment.

However, the former Republican president made a glowing statement calling the office of District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. to staff and people within the Trump Organization.

“After hundreds of subpoenas, over 3 million pages of documents, 4 years of searches, dozens and tens of interviews, and wasted millions of dollars in tax dollars, they are still ‘looking for a crime,'” Trump claimed the investigation was a “continuation of the largest Witch Hunt of All Time “.

For the past few months, investigators in Vance’s office have been focusing on fringe benefits the company gives top executives, such as the use of apartments, cars, and school fees.

Investigators have examined Trump’s tax records, subpoenaed documents and interviewed witnesses, including Trump insiders and company executives.

Another person familiar with the investigation confirmed on Monday that there had been communication between defense lawyers and prosecutors. The person declined to provide details of the conversations.

Such final exchanges are considered formalities that rarely alter the course of an investigation at a late stage, suggesting that the grand jury is about to vote.

The person was not allowed to discuss the case and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Fischetti, who did not attend the meeting on Monday, said the meeting was arranged “for the Trump organization – not for Donald Trump himself.”

“We’re just waiting,” said Fischetti, adding that he expected to know this week if charges will be brought.

The estimated fees for this week, he said, “are limited to a few Trump Org employees who did not report taxes on fringe benefits” they received. The company itself could also be charged, he added.

Lawyers representing Donald Trump’s company also met with public prosecutors for more than 90 minutes last Thursday.

It is not illegal for a company to tutor its employees, lease their cars, or provide them with company apartments, but such arrangements may be subject to income tax.

Fischetti has described the possibility of a charge as “absolutely outrageous” and politically motivated. He said it was extremely unusual for prosecutors to bring criminal charges for unpaid taxes on fringe benefits.

Part of the exam focused on the Trump Organization’s longtime CFO Allen Weisselberg.

Vance’s investigation into Weisselberg, 73, was based in part on questions about his son’s use of a Trump apartment at low or cost, cars that were rented out for the family, and tuition fees paid to a school by Weisselberg’s grandchildren was visited.

Weißelberg’s attorney Mary Mulligan declined to comment.

In addition to fringe benefits, prosecutors have investigated whether the Trump Organization lied about the value of real estate in order to cut taxes or get bank loans or insurance policies on favorable terms. They also investigated the company’s role in paying hush money to two women who say Trump had affairs with them, allegations Trump has denied.

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