Exec: Trump Organization changed pay practices after election win
Suddenly, with the boss heading to the
The company, which for years lavished perks on some top executives, now stands accused of helping them avoid income taxes on those extras, including a
After the audit, "I was instructed at certain points to do things differently," McConney said.
The tax fraud case is the only criminal trial that has arisen from the
It is one of three active cases involving Trump or the company in
Trump took office in
After Trump's election, McConney said, the Trump Organization asked tax lawyer
McConney said he never saw the memo, and company lawyers cut off further discussion with a sustained objection, citing attorney-client privilege. Nevertheless, McConney said, the company changed its tax and pay practices soon after the audit.
"When
Weisselberg pleaded guilty to taking
The company paid for a
Neither Trump nor any of his children who have worked as Trump Organization executives are charged or accused of wrongdoing.
McConney, who was granted immunity to testify last year before a grand jury and again to testify at the criminal trial, said Trump was the Trump Organization's ultimate decision-maker prior to his election.
Trump signed off on Weisselberg's salary and bonuses, signed a lease for the
Some checks and documents bearing Trump's distinct signature were shown in court, along with pay statements and other documents detailing some of the company's since-altered compensation practices.
Steinglass projected receipts onto a large screen, detailing how much the company was paying for Weisselberg's perks - at one point,
Jurors also were shown documents illustrating how McConney changed Weisselberg's pay records, trimming his salary and bonus by more than
McConney said Weisselberg instructed him to make the changes because he was "appreciative that the president was paying these bills on his behalf and he believed that his compensation should be reduced."
It allowed Weisselberg "essentially to pay his rent with pre-tax dollars ... the same with the tuition for his grandchildren ... his utilities ... his car," Steinglass said.
After Trump became president, his two eldest sons,
As for Trump's current status with the company, McConney said he wasn't sure.
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