Prosecutors probing bonuses paid to Trump employees: report

Prosecutors in New York are reportedly looking into cash bonuses given to Trump Organization employees as part of their probe into whether the company paid taxes on benefits given to some members of its staff, according to a report by CNN.

CNN reported that the scrutiny of cash payments is part of investigators’ inquiry into whether executives at the organization failed to pay suitable taxes on benefits, including school tuition, cars and rent-free apartments, according to people familiar with the matter.

It is not apparent, however, who received the bonuses or how much they were worth, CNN noted.

CNN also later updated its report to say that the bonuses were likely paid by check or wire and not in cash.

A person with knowledge of the Trump Organization disputed the report, telling The Hill that “cash was not part of any compensation.”

The offices of Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance Jr. (D) and New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) have been investigating the Trump Organization and its employees for possible tax-related misconduct. Charges in the investigation, according to CNN, could come as soon as this week.

The new reporting from CNN comes after New York attorney Ronald Fischetti, who is representing former President Trump, said in an interview that Vance’s office told him it is currently considering charges against the Trump Organization and individual employees for allegedly not paying taxes on company benefits, and not charges on hush money allegations or potential fraud regarding property valuations.

He also contended that Vance’s team said Trump will not be charged when the first indictments are brought down.

Lawyers for Trump and the organization reportedly met with prosecutors on Thursday and Monday in a last-ditch effort to urge prosecutors not to charge the company.

The Trump Organization’s longtime CFO, Allen Weisselberg, could also face charges as part of Vance’s probe. He is reportedly under scrutiny for his connection to benefits received from the company, including car leases, apartment rent and private school tuition for one of his grandchildren totaling thousands of dollars.

Prosecutors have tried to persuade Weisselberg to cooperate with the investigation, but his lawyers recently said he would not be of assistance, CNN reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

This story was updated at 10:57 a.m. to reflect updates in CNN’s reporting.