Trump Org. CFO Allen Weisselberg denied motion to toss tax charges
Former Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg has been denied a motion to dismiss a string of tax fraud charges against him, a New York judge ruled Friday.
Weisselberg, a longtime Trump confidante, made a brief appearance in Manhattan Criminal Court Friday morning to try and have the Manhattan District Attorney’s indictment against him tossed.
New York Supreme Judge Juan Merchan ruled against Weisselberg’s dismissal motion on the grounds of alleged insufficient evidence and discriminatory animus.
The judge said a full written order explaining his decision would be released later. Weisselberg’s next court appearance has been set for Sep. 12 and jury selection in his trial is scheduled for Oct. 24.
Weisselberg, 74, pleaded not guilty in July last year to charges of tax fraud, conspiracy, ༺grand larceny and falsifyiꦚng business records.
Prosecutors alleged in the indictment that Weisselberg and the Trump Organization had engaged in a 15-year tax fraud scheme to pay the CFO and other company executives in a “manner that was ‘off the books’.”
Weisselberg is accused of receiving “indirect compensation” of more than $1.7 million during that 15-year span — including free rent at a Manhattan apartment, luxury cars and private school tuition for his family, according to the indictment.
His attorney did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment in the wake of Friday’s motion being dismissed.
The indictment against the Trump loyalist were the first charges brought by former Manhattan DA Cy Vance last year amid a probe into the former president’s business empire finances.
New York Attorney General Letitia James has also been investigating the Trump Organization’s finances.
Trump on Wednesday refused to answer questions from New York prosecutors regardingꦜ his resort a🎀nd real estate businesses in a probe separate to the alleged tax fraud that Weisselberg is embroiled in.
“I declined to answer the questions under the rights and privileges afforded to every citizen under the United States Constitution,” Trump said in a statement, referring 🀅;to the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
