Ex-US President Donald Trump's corporate empire threatens to collapse.
Now the prosecutor in New York is bringing charges.
The allegations are serious.
New York City - It's official now.
The Manhattan prosecutor announced on Thursday that it would bring charges against the Trump Organization and its CFO Allen Weisselberg.
It is the first criminal case against the company of former US President Donald Trump.
According to the public prosecutor's office, the defendants operated a tax-saving model for a period of 15 years.
The charges total 15 crimes.
These include tax fraud, conspiracy, aggravated theft and falsification of business records.
New York: charges brought against Trump companies - "important milestone"
New York attorney general Letitia James was quoted in a statement: "Today marks a major milestone in the ongoing criminal investigation against the Trump Organization and its CFO, Allen Weisselberg. In the indictment, we accuse, among other things, of financial misconduct in which the Trump Organization pursued a plan with Mr. Weisselberg to avoid paying taxes on certain allowances. This investigation will continue and we will follow the facts and the law wherever they lead. "
Meanwhile, Weisselberg announced that he would plead not guilty on all 15 counts.
The indictment accuses the Trump Organization's chief financial officer of evading a total of $ 1.76 million in taxes since 2005.
In addition, Weisselberg is said to have incorrectly stated his place of residence for years.
According to the prosecutors, he was a resident of New York City, but kept silent about it.
As a result, Weisselberg avoided paying income taxes in the city of New York.
Trump Organization accuses prosecutors of political motives
Donald Trump has not yet commented on the indictment against his corporate empire.
US media had reported that investigators wanted to get Weisselberg to testify against the former President of the United States.
Apparently that didn't work.
A statement from the Trump Organization on Thursday afternoon regarding the impending charges had included allegations against the Manhattan prosecutor. “This is not a judiciary. This is politics, ”it was announced there. Weisselberg is nothing more than a pawn sacrifice.
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