Trump Organization guilty of tax fraud, New York jury finds

A jury in New York has convicted the Trump Organization of criminal tax fraud in a major blow for the former president.

The verdict represents a serious blow to Trump and his family who rose to fame as property moguls in New York but whose business practices have long shadowed in secrecy with rumors of ill-doing.

It is also the latest in a raft of legal troubles that surround Trump, including several investigations related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election victory of Joe Biden and his apparent removal of sensitive White House documents to his Florida resort of Mar-a-Lago.

The monthlong trial featured testimony from seven witnesses, including Weisselberg and senior vice-president and controller Jeffrey McConney. An outside accountant who spent years preparing tax returns for Trump and the company also testified.

Earlier jurors had zeroed in on the last count listed on the verdict sheet: falsifying business records.

Jurors sent notes twice Tuesday asking for clarity on the falsifying business records charge and a reading of related testimony.

After resuming deliberations Tuesday, jurors sent a note asking the judge to reread three counts of falsifying business records pertaining to the creation of false W2 tax forms for Weisselberg for 2015, 2016 and 2017.

Numerous rivals to Trump are now starting to emerge in the Republican party, especially Florida governor Ron DeSantis.