Trump Organization Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg surrendered Thursday morning to the Manhattan district attorney’s office on an indictment that also charges that business of ex-President Donald Trump.
Weisselberg, who has served Trump as loyal executive for decades, is expected to be arraigned in state court later on the criminal case, which NBC News reports is related to fringe benefits awarded by the Trump Organization. The indictment will be unsealed around the same time.
The Trump Organization will be represented by a lawyer at the court proceeding.
Although the Trump Organization is being charged in the case as a business, Trump himself is not personally charged. The company faces possible fines and other sanctions in the case if convicted.
Weisselberg walked into the DA’s office in lower Manhattan at 6:17 a.m. to be processed in the case.
His lawyers, Mary Mulligan and Bryan Skarlatos, said in a statement, “Mr. Weisselberg intends to plead not guilty and he will fight these charges in court.”
The indictment was obtained from a grand jury on Wednesday at the behest of the DA’s office and New York state Attorney General Letitia James’ office.
DA Cyrus Vance Jr. would not comment on the case as he walked by reporters, who asked him if he had anything to say.
“Just good morning and see you at 2:15,” Vance said, referring to the expected time of the arraignment.
Allen Weisselberg, chief financial officer of The Trump Organization.
Timothy A. Clary | AFP | Getty Images
Shortly after Weisselberg surrendered, the Trump Organization blasted Vance.
“Allen Weisselberg is a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather who has worked at the Trump Organization for 48 years,” a spokesperson for the company said in a statement.
“He is now being used by the Manhattan District Attorney as a pawn in a scorched earth attempt to harm the former President,” the spokesperson said.
“The District Attorney is bringing a criminal prosecution involving employee benefits that neither the IRS nor any other District Attorney would ever think of bringing. This is not justice; this is politics.”
Vance’s office for several years has criminally investigated the Trump Organization in connection with various issues.
Cyrus Vance, Manhattan district attorney, arrives outside the Manhattan district attorney office in New York, U.S., on Thursday, July 1, 2021.
Mark Kauzlarich | Bloomberg | Getty Images
