Trump Organization CFO faces charges in Manhattan

Allen Weisselberg, a top executive for the Trump Organization, voluntarily turned himself in to authorities early Thursday morning in advance of being charged with tax crimes. He pleaded not guilty, turned in his passport, and was released until a court hearing can be held. The indictment follows a two-year investigation by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. and New York Attorney General Letitia James, both Democrats, into former President Donald Trump’s business dealings.

What are the charges? Prosecutors charged the Trump Organization, the Trump Payroll Corp., and Weisselberg with 15 felony counts of fraud. They allege Weisselberg has been involved in a 15-year scheme to falsify business records and avoid personal income taxes. The Trump Organization criticized what it called a “scorched-earth attempt to harm the former president.”

Dig deeper: Read Harvest Prude’s report in The Sift about Democrats’ probe into Trump’s finances.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated since it’s initial publication.