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☆ Who is Alvin Bragg? What to know about the Manhattan district attorney investigating Trump.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Michelle Mark | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg is leading the Trump investigation into Stormy Daniels' hush money payoff. He led the New York attorney general's successful 2018 lawsuit against the Donald J. Trump Foundation, which paid $2 million in court-ordered damages for illegally misusing charitable funds. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg speaks at a press conference after the sentencing hearing of the Trump Organization at the New York Supreme Court in New York City. Bragg is highly controversial for his approach to crimeBeyond the ongoing Trump investigation, Bragg has been harshly criticized for being too lenient while the city struggles with rising crime. Bragg's stance provoked instant blowback in New York City and in conservative media.

Companies Trump Organization Inc FollowNEW YORK, March 21 (Reuters) - A New York judge on Tuesday rejected former U.S. President Donald Trump's bid to delay the scheduled Oct. 2 trial in state Attorney General Letitia James' civil fraud lawsuit, calling the date "written in stone." Among the other defendants are Trump's adult children Donald Jr., Eric and Ivanka, and the jailed former Trump Organization chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg. Christopher Kise, a lawyer for Trump, said the defendants' confidence is growing as they learn more about James' case. "Once everybody knows exactly what happened, then they're going to see that President Trump has done absolutely nothing wrong," he said. Asked later by a Reuters reporter about the trial date being set in stone, Kise said: "For now, it is."

☆ Trump loses bid to delay October 2 fraud trial where New York attorney general will try to run him out of state
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

A judge denied Trump's request for a six-month delay for his October 2 fraud trial in New York. State Attorney General Letitia James sued Trump, his family, and his business in September. The judge declined to move the trial date even though lawyers for Trump said Tuesday that even just a three-week delay would be useful. But the attorney general alleges a decade-long pattern of fraudulent valuations that go beyond the subjective, one of James' lawyers said. "Our complaint shows that there were objective facts that are false," assistant attorney general Kevin Wallace told the judge.

☆ Notable legal clouds that continue to hang over Donald Trump in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Dan Berman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

Trump has denied having an affair with Daniels and says the probe by Bragg, a Democrat, is politically motivated. According to the lawsuit, the Trump Organization deceived lenders, insurers and tax authorities by inflating the value of his properties using misleading appraisals. A federal judge ruled that Trump and FBI Director Christopher Wray can be deposed for two hours each as part of the lawsuit. “What (Trump’s lawsuit) lacks in substance and legal support it seeks to substitute with length, hyperbole, and the settling of scores and grievances,” US District Judge Donald Middlebrooks wrote. Woodward later released “The Trump Tapes,” an audiobook featuring eight hours of raw interviews with Trump interspersed with the author’s commentary.

☆ Not so fast. A New York grand jury will hear a final surprise witness on Monday and won't vote on Trump indictment until it's over.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A Manhattan grand jury will continue hearing evidence Monday in the Trump hush-money investigation. A final witness must testify before the panel can deliberate and then vote on a possible indictment. News of a Monday grand jury witness was first reported by CNN. The surprise final witness provides an updated clue to the timing of a possible indictment of Trump and of any co-defendants. Experts who have described the Manhattan grand jury process to Insider say there are several steps between the final testimony and the vote.

[1/2] Workers remove scaffolding at the New York Courthouse at 80 Centre Street where Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg continues his investigation into former U.S. President Donald Trump, in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., March 18, 2023. Trump said on his Truth Social platform that he expected to be arrested on Tuesday and called on his supporters to protest. A prosecutor leading that probe, Mark Pomerantz, resigned in February 2022 after Bragg declined to charge Trump himself for financial crimes. Cohen previously testified that Trump directed him to arrange the payment, and Cohen pleaded guilty in December 2018 to campaign finance violations and other charges. In the biggest trial victory so far in his tenure, his office last December won the conviction of the Trump Organization on tax fraud charges.

☆ Trump probe follows criticism of Manhattan prosecutor for not acting sooner
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Luc Cohen | Thomson Reuters | Reports On The New York Federal Courts. Previously Worked As A Correspondent In Venezuela | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has come under political pressure for not bringing charges against Trump earlier, but has now invited Trump to testify before a grand jury, according to Susan Necheles, a lawyer for Trump. The probe comes at a critical time, as Trump is running for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. A prosecutor leading that probe, Mark Pomerantz, resigned in February 2022 after Bragg declined to charge Trump himself for financial crimes. A spokeswoman for Bragg, who could still decline to charge Trump, referred to Bragg's earlier statement. In the biggest trial victory so far in his tenure, his office last December won the conviction of the Trump Organization on tax fraud charges.

☆ In battle with Attorney General Letitia James, Trump may force his nemesis Michael Cohen to testify in his defense
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

A new round of subpoenas has been served by both sides in New York's massive Trump fraud lawsuit. Attorney General Letitia James said in court papers she may try to redepose Donald and Eric Trump. It's over this and another approaching deadline that the two sides in James' lawsuit are now battling. Excerpt from court filing in New York attorney general's lawsuit against Donald Trump and the Trump Organization. Michael Cohen's subpoena from the Trump defendants in New York Attorney General Letitia James' fraud lawsuit.

☆ Trump's criminal lawyer slams ex-Manhattan prosecutor Mark Pomerantz's Trump probe book as 'inaccurate'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Trump criminal lawyer Ron Fischetti criticized a tell-all by his former law partner, Mark Pomerantz. Pomerantz is a former lead prosecutor in the DA's probe and author of "People vs. Donald Trump." "I don't think he should have written this book at all," Fischetti told Insider of former prosecutor Mark Pomerantz, whose book, "People vs. Donald Trump," was published this month. "This is a terrible, terrible book," Fischetti said, taking Pomerantz to task for criticizing Bragg's caution and for speaking publicly about a confidential probe that's still in progress. Pomerantz also should have known better than to publicly question Bragg's decision to slow the probe, Fischetti said.

☆ What Trump allies have faced criminal charges?
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Here is a look at some of the Trump aides and allies who have faced criminal prosecution. Weisselberg pleaded guilty in 2022 and served as a star witness in the Trump Organization's criminal trial on tax fraud charges. Two other close Trump associates, Mark Meadows and Daniel Scavino, did not face similar criminal charges despite a House vote recommending them. Trump pardoned Broidy. Roughly 570 have pleaded guilty and 78 have been found guilty at trial.

Persons: Steve Bannon, Shannon Stapleton, Donald Trump, Six, Prosecutors, Trump, STEVE BANNON Trump's, Bannon, Joe Biden's, swindling Trump, ROGER, Stone, ALLEN WEISSELBERG, Weisselberg, PETER NAVARRO, Navarro, Mark Meadows, Daniel Scavino, MICHAEL COHEN, Stormy Daniels, Karen McDougal, Cohen, MICHAEL FLYNN, Flynn, PAUL MANAFORT, Manafort, RICK, Gates, ELLIOT BROIDY, Broidy, Stewart Rhodes, Andy Sullivan, Will Dunham, Scott Malone, Daniel Wallis Organizations: White House, REUTERS, Companies Trump Organization Inc, WASHINGTON, Six Trump, House, . House, Capitol, Trump, Trump White House, U.S, Army, Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency, FBI, Thomson Locations: New, New York City, U.S, New York, Mexico, Moscow, United States, Russian Ukrainian, Russia

☆ Trump called his CFO Allen Weisselberg 'My Jewish CPA' to his face, and threatened him to 'make me happy or else,' according to a new book
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Donald Trump called his CFO Allen Weisselberg his "Jewish CPA," according to a new book. Jennifer described how Allen Weisselberg received lavish benefits from the Trump Organization without paying taxes on them, according to the book. Allen Weisselberg worked for the Trump Organization for decades, rising to the role of CFO and managing the personal finances of Trump's family members. Prosecutors at the Manhattan district attorney's office have sought his cooperation for their long-running investigation into Trump's finances, which remains ongoing. Pomerantz's book, titled "People vs. Donald Trump: An Inside Account," has drawn criticism from Bragg, who has stressed the Trump Organization investigation is ongoing.

☆ The Manhattan DA's office considered charging Trump with racketeering before backing off, book says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Sonam Sheth | Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Manhattan DA considered charging Trump with racketeering, a new book says. Mark Pomerantz, a former prosecutor in the DA's office, writes that he built a sweeping case against Trump, according to NYT. The DA's office ultimately decided not to indict the former president. The DA's office charged the Trump Organization and its chief bookkeeper, Allen Weisselberg, with 15 felony counts in July 2021. He seemed always to stay one step ahead of the law," Pomerantz writes.

☆ The Manhattan DA was skeptical about using Michael Cohen to testify against Trump. He's now helping the office investigate the ex-president's hush-money scandal.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg was reportedly skeptical about using Michael Cohen in a criminal case against Trump. Cohen — a former vice president of the Trump Organization and personal lawyer for the ex-president — has his own criminal history. Pomerantz was hired by Bragg's predecessor Cyrus Vance Jr. A legendary defense attorney and former prosecutor, he returned to law enforcement solely for the Trump investigation. Weisselberg pleaded guilty to the fraud charges, and the Trump Organization was convicted at trial late last year. Weisselberg is under pressure to cooperate in the DA's Trump investigation or he could face more charges, the Times reported this week.

☆ Trump's NY fraud trial starts on time 'come hell or high water,' judge warns warring lawyers at hearing
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Oral arguments focused on whether something called the "Trump Organization" legally exists. The judge, meanwhile, warned that "come hell or high water" an October trial will not be delayed. "Come hell or high water, and pardon my French," the judge added of his set-in-stone trial start time: 10 a.m. on Monday, October 2, 2023. It's shorthand for them, as well — James' lawsuit references "the Trump Organization," for convenience's sake, some 300 times in its 222 pages. The judge urged the attorney general's office and the defendants' lawyers to avoid a protracted argument over sanctions.

☆ Trump risks 'hush money' charges carrying up to 4 years in prison, say ex-Manhattan prosecutors
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Trump's Stormy Daniels "hush money" is the subject of a Manhattan grand jury, The NY Times reports. Ex-Manhattan financial crimes prosecutors say Trump risks felony-level state records-fraud charges. The first requirement to proving the highest level of falsifying business records would be showing that records were indeed falsified in the business records of an enterprise. Cohen has admitted being the bag man who delivered $130,000 in "hush money" on the brink of the 2016 election. Each check could be a separate "falsifying business records" charge, Moscow said.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg established a grand jury for another Trump investigation. The special grand jury is hearing evidence over whether Trump broke laws with his 2016 hush-money payment. The case is being heard by a special grand jury, according to the Times, which sits for six months rather than the standard single month. Bragg's predecessor, Cyrus Vance Jr., allowed members of his team to bring evidence to a grand jury over potential tax and bank fraud charges. According to the Times, to bring felony charges against Trump, prosecutors would need to prove he falsified records for the payment to conceal a second crime.

☆ Manhattan grand jury begins to hear evidence in Trump hush money case: report
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign stop to unveil his leadership team, at the South Carolina State House in Columbia, South Carolina, U.S., January 28, 2023. Shannon Stapleton | ReutersA Manhattan grand jury began hearing evidence Monday in a criminal probe of a 2016 hush money payment that former President Donald Trump authorized to porn star Stormy Daniels, a new report said. A witness in that investigation, former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, was seen with his attorney entering the courthouse Monday where the grand jury is meeting, according to The New York Times. The newspaper also reported that prosecutors from Manhattan's District Attorney's Office have recently contacted officials from Trump's 2016 campaign about it. Cohen later admitted he made that payment at Trump's behest, to avoid Daniels damaging his chances of winning the White House.

☆ Donald Trump argues in wild court filing that New York can't sue the Trump Organization because it doesn't legally exist
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

NY's Attorney General sued Trump, his family and his business in September over an alleged pattern of fraud. In a response late Thursday, the defendants repeatedly claimed the Trump Organization can't be sued. 'Trump Organization' is branding shorthand, not a legal entity, they said repeatedly in 5,000 pages of response. The New York lawsuit names Donald Trump, Donald Trump, Jr., Ivanka Trump, Eric Trump, former company CFO Allen Weisselberg, its former payroll executive Jeffrey McConney, and entities under the Trump Organization umbrella. Read Donald Trump's response to the New York attorney general's massive fraud lawsuit here.

The investigation focuses in part on a phone call Trump made to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, on Jan. 2, 2021. Trump asked Raffensperger to "find" enough votes needed to overturn Trump's election loss in Georgia. Legal experts said Trump may have violated at least three Georgia criminal election laws: conspiracy to commit election fraud, criminal solicitation to commit election fraud and intentional interference with performance of election duties. Both investigations involving Trump are being overseen by Jack Smith, a war crimes prosecutor and political independent. NEW YORK CRIMINAL PROBEAlthough Trump was not charged with wrongdoing, his real estate company was found guilty on Dec. 6 of tax fraud in New York state.

☆ Trump questions whether not paying taxes is 'even a crime' as he laments his former CFO Weisselberg's jailing
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Donald Trump questioned whether his former CFO not paying taxes was "even a crime." Allen Weisselberg, 75, has been sentenced to five months for his role in a Trump Organization tax dodge scheme. Weisselberg, 75, was earlier this month sentenced to five months for his role in masterminding a Trump Organization tax dodge scheme. Weisselberg was sentenced days before the Trump Organization was hit with a $1.6 million fine during the company's sentencing for its December conviction on payroll-tax fraud. The former CFO remained loyal to his former employer throughout the trial, continuing to insist that Trump himself did nothing wrong.

Trump Corp. and Trump Payroll Corp. — both subsidiaries of the Trump Organization — were convicted last month on 17 counts, including conspiracy, criminal tax fraud and falsifying business records. “This case was all about Allen Weisselberg committing tax fraud on his personal tax returns. Every witness repeatedly testified that President Trump and the Trump family knew nothing about Allen Weisselberg’s actions,” Trump attorney Susan Necheles maintained after the verdict. The $1.6 million in penalties the district attorney sought is the maximum allowed under applicable statutes in the case. Trump has complained that the actions of the district attorney and the attorney general are part of the "witch hunt" against him.

☆ Trump Org sentenced to pay a $1.6 million tax-fraud fine Friday, but the fraud still yields a profit for Trump
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Trump Org must pay $1.6 million, the maximum fine allowed by law, a Manhattan judge ordered Friday. The fine is Trump Org's penalty for a decade-long tax-fraud scheme it was convicted of last month. The fine is the maximum allowed under New York State law, and came with harsh words from a Manhattan prosecutor. Trump saved millions in payroll costs over the course of the decade-long scheme, Manhattan prosecutors have repeatedly argued. He added that the Trump Organiztion and Weisselberg sentencings "closes this important chapter of our ongoing investigation into the president's businesss."

☆ Trump Organization hit with $1.6 million fine for criminal tax fraud scheme
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

One of those executives was former Trump Organization Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg, who pleaded guilty to tax fraud charges last summer and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors against his longtime employer. The Trump Corp. and The Trump Payroll Corp., two subsidiaries of the Trump Organization, were both sentenced to the maximum possible fines under New York laws. The Trump Organization has denied all wrongdoing and is planning to appeal the verdict. The Trump Organization, former President Donald Trump 's business empire, was hit with a $1.6 million fine Friday for tax fraud and other crimes committed as part of a yearslong scheme to help some of its top executives avoid paying taxes on compensation. Prosecutors and Trump Organization lawyers gather at the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse for the sentencing hearing in New York City, U.S. January 13, 2023.

[1/2] Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a rally in Commerce, Georgia, U.S. March 26, 2022. Trump's company faces only a maximum $1.6 million penalty, but has said it plans to appeal. Bragg and James are Democrats, as is Bragg's predecessor Cyrus Vance, who brought the criminal case. "The whole narrative that Donald Trump was blissfully ignorant is just not real," Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass told jurors in his closing argument. State law limits the penalties that Justice Merchan can impose on Trump's company.

☆ Donald Trump's longtime money man, Allen Weisselberg, quickly gets coveted cot in 'safest place' at Rikers
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Former Trump CFO Allen Weisselberg breezed through intake at NYC's infamous Rikers jail. The West Facility houses only Rikers inmates serving sentences of under one year, Mualimmak-Ak said. A dorm in the West Facility of Rikers, where the ex-CFO of Donald Trump's real-estate company is serving 5 months for masterminding a decade-long payroll tax-fraud scheme. The West Facility is constructed of high-tech plastic fabric stretched over aluminum frames, according to the DOC website. An exterior shot of the West Facility, new home at Rikers jail for Allen Weisselberg, longtime CFO for former President Donald Trump.

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