EXCLUSIVE: Eric Trump tears into 'political vendetta' against Allen Weisselberg and Manhattan DA's 'abuse of power' after five-year, multi-million dollar investigation that may only get back thousands in unpaid taxes

 Eric Trump blasted prosecutors on Thursday for running a 'political vendetta' against his father, saying it had taken five years, millions of documents and hundreds of subpoenas to uncover problems with a corporate car and an apartment used by an employee.

He spoke exclusively before the Trump Organization's chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg pleaded not guilty to failing to pay taxes for years on a company car, apartment and school fees for his grandchildren.

The investigation has cost millions of dollars but could yield just tens of thousands of dollars in back tax.

Weisselberg is accused of failing to pay tax on $1.76 million of perks since 2005, according to the 25-page indictment.

'It is an absolute abuse of power and a political vendetta,' said Trump, 37, who is executive vice president of the family business.

'They are petrified my father will run again in 2024.

'After five years, hundreds of subpoenas, three and a half million pages of documents, and dozens of witnesses, this is what they have?'

Eric Trump, executive vice president of the Trump Organization, said New York prosecutors were engaged in a 'political vendetta' against his father. The first charges in their case are expected to be unsealed on Thursday

Eric Trump, executive vice president of the Trump Organization, said New York prosecutors were engaged in a 'political vendetta' against his father. The first charges in their case are expected to be unsealed on Thursday

Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg was brought into New York Supreme Court wearing handcuffs

Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg was brought into New York Supreme Court wearing handcuffs

A loose pair of handcuffs, which would be used to secure him to an escort, can be seen behind Weisselberg's back as he is brought into court to hear 15 charges against him

A loose pair of handcuffs, which would be used to secure him to an escort, can be seen behind Weisselberg's back as he is brought into court to hear 15 charges against him

Weisselberg walks in handcuffs into courtroom before arraignment
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He said the company had nothing to hide and had handed over reams of information since questions were first asked about his father's taxes five years ago.

The charges relate to Weisselberg's use of a company car up until 2018 when accounting practices changed and a one-bedroom apartment in New York.

Investigators have also been probing whether private school fees for his grandchildren, paid by the company, should also have been taxed. 

Legal experts say it is rare for charges to be brought in such cases and that prosecutors are trying to 'flip' Weisselberg to give evidence against his employer.

Eric Trump said the motives were clear.

'Any taxpayer should be infuriated by this political witch hunt especially as young girls are getting shot in the middle of Times Square and as people are fleeing New York state in record numbers,' he said, referring to a four-year-old girl who was shot in the leg in May.

'These people are cruel and these actions will expose them for who they truly are.'

Weisselberg is viewed as part of the family after beginning work for Fred Trump in 1973, earning a reputation for loyalty and hard work.

So trusted did he become, that when Trump stepped aside to become president he tasked Weisselberg with running the company alongside his two sons.

Insiders are confident that he is not about to turn on the former president over perks that could amount to a few thousand dollars in unpaid taxes.


Weisselberg (c), the longtime CFO of the Trump Organization, is pictured with Donald Trump Jr. (r) and and the former president. He will be charged related to the firm not paying taxes on employee benefits such as cars, apartments and cash bonuses

Weisselberg (c), the longtime CFO of the Trump Organization, is pictured with Donald Trump Jr. (r) and and the former president. He will be charged related to the firm not paying taxes on employee benefits such as cars, apartments and cash bonuses 

Weisselberg was seen arriving at a Lower Manhattan building that house the criminal courts and the Manhattan district attorney's office at about 6:20 am.

An indictment remained under seal before his arraignment expected on Thursday afternoon.

His lawyers, Mary Mulligan and Bryan Skarlatos, said the executive will plead not guilty and 'fight these charges in court.' 

Earlier the Trump Organization issued a statement describing him as a family man who was being used as a 'pawn in a scorched-earth attempt to harm the former president.'

'The district attorney is bringing a criminal prosecution involving employee benefits that neither the I.R.S. or any other district attorney would ever think of bringing,' it said. 'This is not justice; this is politics.'

Prosecutors in the office of the district attorney Cyrus Vance have been investigating whether Weisselberg failed to pay taxes on company perks.

They are also working with lawyers from the office of the New York State attorney general, Letitia James, who promised to target Trump during her campaign for the role in 2018.

'We're going to be a real pain in the ass,' she told a supporter who asked if she planned to sue Trump in an exchange captured on video.

'He's going to know my name personally.' 

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