President Trump to appeal Manhattan decision, slams ‘Greatest Political Witch Hunt in the History of our country’

by Laura Ramirez

Photo: Alamy

After a New York jury voted to convict the Trump Organization of tax fraud, President Donald Trump announced plans to appeal the decision, calling it “a continuation of the Greatest Political Witch Hunt in the History of our country.”

Following the end of the six-week trial, a jury in Manhattan ruled on Tuesday to convict the Trump Organization and the Trump Payroll Corporation on 17 counts, including a scheme to defraud, conspiracy, tax fraud, and falsifying business records, the Washington Examiner reported.

The case was developed around the Trump Organization’s former finance chief Allen Weisselberg, who plead guilty to 15 counts of tax fraud and other crimes in August, and the organization’s controller Jeffrey McConney, who reportedly took part in Weisselberg’s illegal doings, the outlet further noted.

The 45th president released a fiery statement responding to the verdict, announcing an appeal and questioning why “Corporations, which knew nothing about Weisselberg’s personal tax returns, be prosecuted for that person’s conduct?”

The statement said:

“Disappointed with the verdict in Manhattan, but will appeal. After looking at millions of pages of documents, over many years, much to the detriment of record setting murder and other forms of violent crime that are taking place in New York City, the Government was able to get an employee to “plea” in order for a very reduced sentence. This case was about Allen Weisselberg committing tax fraud on his personal tax returns, etc., with he and every witness repeatedly testifying that President Trump and the Trump Family knew nothing about his actions, which he admits were done solely for his own benefit, and with no benefit to the two companies. Why would Corporations, which knew nothing about Weisselberg’s personal tax returns, be prosecuted for that person’s conduct?”

Per Fox Business, prosecutors made the case that both Weisselberg and McConney were acting on behalf of the company, with the company benefiting from the illegal dealings. However, the organization’s legal team clarified that neither the Trump family nor the company was to be blamed for Weisselberg and McConney’s personal actions.

Weisselberg has also attested to the notion that the Trump family was unaware of his actions, the outlet added.

“This case is unprecedented and involved no monetary gain to these two Corporations. It is a continuation of the Greatest Political Witch Hunt in the History of our Country. New York City is a hard place to be “Trump,’ as businesses and people flee our once Great City!” Trump’s statement concluded.

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