<ul class="summary-list"><li>Former Manhattan DA prosecutor <keyword id="12137380" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="mark-pomerantz" source="Orion">Mark Pomerantz</keyword> left a blistering resignation letter, saying the DA should have brought criminal charges against <keyword id="11914386" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="donald-trump" source="Orion">Donald Trump</keyword>.</li><li>Ron Fischetti, his former <keyword id="11899820" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="law" source="Orion">law</keyword> partner — and Trump's lawyer — told Insider he's disappointed by the letter.</li></ul>In the 1980s and 1990s, Ron Fischetti and Mark Pomerantz ran a law firm together. The legendary attorneys' practice <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ronald-fischetti-trump-organization-investigation-lawyer-partners-mark-pomerantz-2021-8">defended mobsters and politicians</a>, making them among the most prominent criminal defense lawyers in New York.In recent years, they've been on opposite sides of the table. Pomerantz — who <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/manhattan-district-attorney-hires-mark-pomerantz-mafia-prosector-investigate-trump-2021-2">was also one of the top prosecutors</a> in the US Attorney's office in Manhattan — left private practice in early 2021 to help lead the Manhattan District Attorney's office's <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-tax-returns-explainer-donald-trump-organization-2021-2">investigation into the Trump Organization's finances</a>. Former President Donald Trump hired Fischetti to represent him personally.When the New York Times on Wednesday <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/former-manhattan-da-prosecutor-thinks-trump-committed-numerous-felonies-2022-3">published Pomerantz's letter of resignation</a> from the DA's office, Fischetti felt disappointed in his former partner, he told Insider. He praised Manhattan DA <keyword id="13330437" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="alvin-bragg" source="Orion">Alvin Bragg</keyword>, who took office in January, for rejecting <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/23/nyregion/mark-pomerantz-resignation-letter.html">Pomerantz's argument</a> that prosecutors had collected enough evidence for a grand jury to bring criminal charges against Trump for "numerous felony violations.""Quite frankly, I was surprised and disappointed that he left, and left a letter like that with regard to dealing with the district attorney, Mr. Bragg," Fischetti told Insider. "He has this reason for giving it, I'm sure. But I don't agree with them at all. And I don't believe he should have left the way he did."Pomerantz resigned in February along with <keyword id="13460130" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="carey-dunne" source="Orion">Carey Dunne</keyword>, a former top deputy to now-former Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance Jr. The investigation — into whether the <keyword id="11964533" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="trump-organization" source="Orion">Trump Organization</keyword> misrepresented its finances in a way that amounted to tax, bank, and insurance fraud — began under Vance's administration in 2019, and continues under Bragg.Prosecutors in July brought <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/allen-weisselberg-lawyer-strong-reason-expect-more-indictments-trump-organization-2021-9">one set of charges against the Trump Organization and its Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg</a>, who they alleged evaded tax payments on millions of dollars in benefits. Lawyers for Weisselberg and the company have denied wrongdoing.Fischetti told Insider that he and Pomerantz <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/prosecutors-havent-spoken-with-trump-lawyer-since-trump-organization-indictment-2021-9">last spoke in late June</a>, shortly before the charges were brought against Weisselberg and the Trump Organization.At the time, Fischetti said, Pomerantz said the DA's office did not plan to imminently bring charges against Trump. Pomerantz also said, according to Fischetti, that he'd talk to him personally if criminal charges were coming."I haven't spoken to him since June. We were on different sides arguing about whether or not Trump should be charged. And we had an agreement that Mark, if they made a decision to charge him, he would talk to me," Fischetti said.Fischetti hasn't heard from anyone in the DA's office at all since that June meeting, he told Insider.<h2>Pomerantz accused Trump of crimes as the investigation continues</h2>Pomerantz and Dunne believed they had enough evidence to bring grand jury charges against Trump personally, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/23/nyregion/trump-investigation-felony-resignation-pomerantz.html">according to the New York Times</a>. Vance had also believed the evidence was ready, Pomerantz said in his letter.When Bragg turned them down, saying the evidence against Trump wasn't yet sufficient, Pomerantz and Dunne walked."I and others believe that your decision not to authorize prosecution now will doom any future prospects that Mr. Trump will be prosecuted for the criminal conduct we have been investigating," <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/23/nyregion/mark-pomerantz-resignation-letter.html">Pomerantz wrote</a>. "I fear that your decision means that Mr. Trump will not be held fully accountable for his crimes. I have worked too hard as a lawyer, and for too long, now to become a passive participant in what I believe to be a grave failure of justice."<div type="image" title="allen weisselberg" height="1660" width="2213" msid="90427836" hostid="261"></div>The Manhattan DA's office office has declined to comment on specifics about the investigation because it is ongoing. Bragg <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/02/24/hoffinger-trump-probe-bragg/?s=09">hired Susan Hoffinger</a>, another experienced white-collar criminal attorney, to take over the case."The investigation is ongoing. It's not over. And then he just picked up and wrote this letter," Fischetti said. "It's not the right thing to do. I think he's wrong for doing this. And it's very disappointing."Before the publication of Pomerantz's letter by the Times, a records official for the DA's office told Insider that the letter could not be released under the state Freedom of Information Law because it reflected "internal deliberations and opinions." A representative for the Manhattan DA's office didn't immediately respond to Insider's questions about the publication of Pomerantz's letter and whether it affects the investigation.Fischetti has <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-deposition-appeal-court-dodge-testimony-ny-probe-2022-2">separately been battling</a> the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James, which is conducting a parallel, civil investigation into the Trump Organization's finances. He has sought to stop her office from deposing Trump, arguing in court that it's unfair to obtain his testimony while her office is also collaborating with the Manhattan DA's criminal investigation.In the late 1990s, Pomerantz was in charge of the criminal division of the US Attorney's office in Manhattan. Part of that job, Fischetti said, involved reviewing evidence from other prosecutors and deciding if it was enough to bring criminal charges.If one of those prosecutors wrote a letter blasting him for turning down their case, Fischetti said, Pomerantz probably wouldn't appreciate it."I don't think he'd like that," Fischetti said. So I don't think he should have done what he did, quite frankly."

Trump lawyer says he's 'disappointed' by the resignation letter of a Manhattan DA prosecutor &mdash; his former law partner &mdash; that accuses the ex-president of 'numerous felony violations'

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A tax-fraud indictment against the <keyword id="11964533" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="trump-organization" source="Orion">Trump Organization</keyword> and its CFO personally named <keyword id="11914386" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="donald-trump" source="Orion">Donald Trump</keyword>.</li><li>Still, his lawyer <keyword id="12137379" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ronald-fischetti" source="Orion">Ronald Fischetti</keyword> told Insider he didn't think the <keyword id="12005289" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="manhattan-da" source="Orion">Manhattan DA</keyword> would charge Trump.</li><li>He said Trump's tax savings in the alleged fraud scheme would amount to "pennies."</li></ul>An attorney representing Donald Trump said he wasn't worried that the former president was <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/manhattan-da-trump-signed-tuition-checks-allen-weisselberg-kids-2021-7">personally named</a> in the indictment against his namesake company, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/prosecutors-havent-spoken-with-trump-lawyer-since-trump-organization-indictment-2021-9">telling Insider he's confident Trump wouldn't be charged</a> in the Manhattan district attorney's long-running investigation.Prosecutors <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/manhattan-da-trump-signed-tuition-checks-allen-weisselberg-kids-2021-7">named Trump in charging documents unsealed July 1</a>. They said he cut checks for family members of Trump Organization CFO <keyword id="12124265" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="allen-weisselberg" source="Orion">Allen Weisselberg</keyword>, whom they also accused of tax crimes."Trump Corporation personnel, including Weisselberg, arranged for tuition expenses for Weisselberg's family members to be paid by personal checks drawn on the account of and signed by Donald J. Trump, and later drawn on the account of the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust," <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-organization-allen-weisselberg-read-indictment-manhattan-da-2021-6">prosecutors alleged in the indictment</a>.Trump's lawyer Ronald Fischetti told Insider the mention had no bearing on the former president's personal legal exposure in the district attorney's investigation. He said Trump paid the tuition bills personally, rather than through corporate accounts, and took "no deductions" on them."All that money paid for [Weisselberg's] grandson's tuition - to the same school that Donald Trump's son Barron goes to - was paid by Donald Trump personally, never from the company," Fischetti said. "No checks ever went from the company to pay for that tuition."Fischetti said Trump made the tuition payments because Weisselberg's son, Barry, was undergoing <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jennifer-weisselberg-trump-org-cfo-worried-about-prosecutors-2018-2021-6">an acrimonious split from his wife, Jennifer Weisselberg</a>. Trump wanted to make sure the grandchildren of a "trusted employee" could remain at their school, Fischetti said."Donald Trump, out of his generosity, paid for it personally," Fischetti said. "No deductions, no nothing."<h2>The Trump Organization is expected to face trial next year</h2>Weisselberg and attorneys for the Trump Organization pleaded not guilty to a 15-count indictment, where <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-organization-allen-weisselberg-read-indictment-manhattan-da-2021-6">prosecutors described</a> a wide-ranging tax scheme in which they accused Weisselberg of dodging taxes on $1.7 million of his income, much of which they said came in the form of perks like tuition payments, apartments, and cars.Prosecutors said more than $359,000 of that untaxed compensation <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/manhattan-da-trump-signed-tuition-checks-allen-weisselberg-kids-2021-7">came in the form of tuition payments from 2012 to 2017</a>. They alleged the tuition payments were categorized as compensation in the Trump Organization's internal records but not on Weisselberg's personal tax forms.<div type="image" title="Allen weisselberg court" height="1666" width="2223" msid="86384470" hostid="261"></div>Fischetti said that Trump paying the tuition out of his own pocket, rather than corporate coffers, indicated Trump had already paid all the appropriate taxes on his end."It's not taxable for that person," Fischetti said. "And it's not a deduction for the person who's giving it to them."Weisselberg's grandchildren have attended the Columbia Grammar &amp; Preparatory School in Manhattan's Upper West Side, which was <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-investigation-manhattan-da-subpoenaed-private-school-2021-5">subpoenaed in the district attorney's investigation</a>.Since last fall, Jennifer Weisselberg <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/manhattan-da-trump-investigation-pace-jennifer-allen-weisselberg-2021-3">has been a cooperating witness</a> and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-investigation-new-york-documents-messy-divorce-case-weisselberg-2021-3">has given troves of documents to prosecutors</a>. She told Insider in an interview earlier this year that the Trump Organization sometimes gave employees perks like apartments and tuition payments in lieu of monetary bonuses <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-organization-control-employees-apartment-tuition-instead-salary-source-2021-3">as a way to control their lives</a>.In a court hearing Monday, New York State Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan said attorneys for Weisselberg and the Trump Organization had <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/prosecutors-allen-weisselberg-lawyers-clash-trump-organization-case-2021-9">until January to review 6 million pages of documents</a> in the case and submit pretrial motions. Merchan told the attorneys to expect a trial to begin in August or September of next year.<h2>Fischetti said Trump's tax savings in the alleged fraud scheme would amount to 'fucking pennies'</h2>Bryan Skarlatos, an attorney representing Weisselberg in the case, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/allen-weisselberg-lawyer-strong-reason-expect-more-indictments-trump-organization-2021-9">said in court Monday that he expected more indictments</a> from <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-grand-jury-how-it-works-what-charges-jurors-bring-2021-6">the grand-jury investigation</a>.Fischetti told Insider <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/prosecutors-havent-spoken-with-trump-lawyer-since-trump-organization-indictment-2021-9">he didn't expect Trump to be among the indicted</a>. He said the tax savings prosecutors describe would amount to "pennies" for the former president."This guy's a billionaire. What's he going to get out of this?" he said, adding: "It's fucking pennies! It's ridiculous. They have nothing on the president. Absolutely nothing."Fischetti said he met with prosecutors in June and they'd brought no evidence that Trump had any personal knowledge of or involvement in the alleged tax scheme."They have said nothing about the president knowing about this," Fischetti said. "They have no tape recordings, they have no email, they have no text. They have no documents. They have nothing!"<div type="image" title="allen weisselberg court" height="1566" width="2089" msid="86384472" hostid="261"></div>Prosecutors typically meet with attorneys of people they plan to accuse of white-collar crimes shortly before indictments, but <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/prosecutors-havent-spoken-with-trump-lawyer-since-trump-organization-indictment-2021-9">Fischetti said he'd heard nothing from the district attorney's team since that summer meeting</a>. <keyword id="12137380" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="mark-pomerantz" source="Orion">Mark Pomerantz</keyword> - <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ronald-fischetti-trump-organization-investigation-lawyer-partners-mark-pomerantz-2021-8">Fischetti's former law partner and a leading member of the Manhattan district attorney's team</a> - assured Fischetti he'd give him a chance to defend Trump in advance of bringing any charges.Attorneys for other witnesses who've testified before the grand jury said none of the clients had anything to say about Trump's personal involvement, according to Fischetti. He said prosecutors' only hope of indicting Trump would be to "coerce" people to tell the grand jury they acted at Trump's direction."The only thing they could possibly have are witnesses that would go into the grand jury and say, 'Yes, I got a free car and I got a free apartment, and he deducted it from my salary or would give it to me as a bonus so the company made money,'" Fischetti told Insider. "He needs witnesses! He has none! Zero!"A representative for the Manhattan district attorney's office declined to comment for this story.Prosecutors also were <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-tax-returns-explainer-donald-trump-organization-2021-2">said to have been investigating</a> whether the Trump Organization broke tax laws by keeping two sets of books to secure favorable tax, insurance, and loan rates, as well as whether the company broke campaign finance laws by facilitating hush-money payments to Stormy Daniels in advance of the 2016 election.Fischetti said he hasn't heard anything about charges related to those inquiries.

Trump's lawyer says he's not worried prosecutors named Trump personally in the tax-fraud indictment against his namesake company

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Prosecutors haven't spoken with Trump's lawyer since indicting the ex-president's company in July.</li><li>The DA's office commonly talks to people accused of white-collar crime before bringing indictments.</li><li>Trump's lawyer <keyword id="12137379" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ronald-fischetti" source="Orion">Ronald Fischetti</keyword> said the DA presented "no evidence" that Trump should be charged.</li></ul>A lawyer for <keyword id="11914386" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="donald-trump" source="Orion">Donald Trump</keyword> told Insider that prosecutors in the Manhattan District Attorney's Office hadn't spoken with him since indicting the former president's namesake company in July.It's a sign that Trump won't be indicted anytime soon as part of Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr.'s long-running investigation into the <keyword id="11964533" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="trump-organization" source="Orion">Trump Organization</keyword>, Ronald Fischetti said.Fischetti spoke with Insider Monday after <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/prosecutors-allen-weisselberg-lawyers-clash-trump-organization-case-2021-9">a court hearing stemming from the investigation</a>. Fischetti said he had only one meeting with prosecutors from the DA's office, in June. Members of Vance's team - <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ronald-fischetti-trump-organization-investigation-lawyer-partners-mark-pomerantz-2021-8">led by Fischetti's former law partner Mark Pomerantz</a> - "had nothing," Fischetti said."There's no evidence that anyone has brought forth, or talked to me about, or showed me, that he should be charged," Fischetti said.A representative for the <keyword id="12005289" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="manhattan-da" source="Orion">Manhattan DA</keyword>'s Office declined to comment.It's common for prosecutors to meet with attorneys for people they plan to accuse of white-collar crimes ahead of bringing a criminal indictment. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ronald-fischetti-trump-organization-investigation-lawyer-partners-mark-pomerantz-2021-8">Fischetti is representing Trump in a personal capacity in the case</a>, and he said attorneys representing the company and its chief financial officer were also present at the June meeting.On July 1, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-organization-allen-weisselberg-read-indictment-manhattan-da-2021-6">prosecutors announced charges</a> against the Trump Organization and its chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg. They alleged that Weisselberg, over the course of 15 years, dodged paying taxes on $1.7 million worth of income. Prosecutors said the company gave Weisselberg perks like apartments, cars, and tuition payments for family members without paying the appropriate taxes on them.Weisselberg and attorneys for the Trump Organization pleaded not guilty to the charges. On Monday morning, New York State Supreme Court <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/prosecutors-allen-weisselberg-lawyers-clash-trump-organization-case-2021-9">Justice Juan Merchan set a motion schedule</a> that would permit defense attorneys to review the 6 million pages of evidence prosecutors supplied in advance of an expected trial in August or September 2022.<h2>Fischetti met with prosecutors in June</h2>At the June meeting with <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-new-york-prosecutors-cy-vance-letitia-james-manhattan-da-2020-12">members of the DA's office</a>, Fischetti said he gave "a very long and detailed" presentation demonstrating what he described as a lack of evidence to tie Trump personally to the tax-evasion scheme prosecutors alleged."They have said nothing about the president knowing about this," Fischetti told Insider. "They have no tape recordings, they have no email, they have no text. They have no documents. They have nothing."The <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-grand-jury-how-it-works-what-charges-jurors-bring-2021-6">special-grand-jury investigation into the Trump Organization</a> remains ongoing. Bryan Skarlatos, an attorney for Weisselberg, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/prosecutors-allen-weisselberg-lawyers-clash-trump-organization-case-2021-9">said in court Monday</a> that he expected the grand jury to bring "other indictments" as his team continued to review documents. Weisselberg's two sons, Barry and Jack Weisselberg, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/allen-weisselberg-trump-organization-cfo-investigations-2021-3">are also under investigation</a> into whether they received untaxed benefits, Bloomberg <keyword id="11893589" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="news" source="Orion">News</keyword> reported.Nicholas Gravante, an attorney representing Trump Organization Chief Operating Officer <keyword id="12005287" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="matthew-calamari" source="Orion">Matthew Calamari</keyword>, who is also under scrutiny, told Insider he'd met several times with prosecutors since the July 1 indictment. Gravante has <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-organization-investigation-matthew-calamari-jr-testify-manhattan-da-jury-2021-9">already secured immunity for Matthew Calamari Jr.</a>, the elder Calamari's son who is also the head of security for the Trump Organization and who received a subpoena to testify for the grand jury.<div type="image" title="allen weisselberg" height="1660" width="2213" msid="86382439" hostid="261"></div>At the end of the June meeting, Fischetti said, Pomerantz "gave his word" that the DA's office would reach out if they planned to charge Trump personally."I have not heard from them since that meeting," Fischetti said, adding: "I'm waiting for the phone to ring. As of now, he's not charged, and I have had no communications with the DA's office."Fischetti said prosecutors made no mention of two other subjects that The Washington Post reported were part of the Manhattan DA's investigation: whether the company illegally <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-tax-returns-explainer-donald-trump-organization-2021-2">kept two sets of books to secure favorable tax, loan, and insurance terms</a> and whether it broke campaign-finance laws in facilitating a hush-money payment to Stormy Daniels.Fischetti told Insider the DA's office should drop its investigation, saying it unfairly cast a cloud on the former president's reputation."Never have I ever seen a case like this in 50 years. It's ridiculous," he said. "And now's the time I'm speaking out. This thing should end right now."

Manhattan DA prosecutors haven't spoken with Trump's lawyer since indicting his company on tax-crime charges

<ul class="summary-list"><li>85-year-old attorney Ron Fischetti represents <keyword id="6354484" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Donald-Trump">Donald Trump</keyword> in the <keyword id="10828178" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="manhattan-da">Manhattan DA</keyword>'s Trump Org. investigation.</li><li>He's made a career of representing mobsters and politicians.</li><li>Fischetti was also former <keyword id="6355470" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="law">law</keyword> partners with <keyword id="10792887" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="mark-pomerantz">Mark Pomerantz</keyword>, the top prosecutor on the case.</li></ul>As the <keyword id="745058" type="POSITION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Manhattan-District-Attorney">Manhattan District Attorney</keyword>'s office sunk its teeth into the <keyword id="293550" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Trump-Organization">Trump Organization</keyword> this spring, the former president hired a new lawyer.<keyword id="5020505" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="ronald-fischetti">Ronald Fischetti</keyword>, an 85-year-old white collar, criminal defense attorney, was the perfect person <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reviews/out?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wsj.com%2Farticles%2Ftrump-organization-hires-criminal-defense-lawyer-11617837781">to represent Donald Trump</a> in an investigation that's been <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/prosecutors-investigate-trump-organization-finances-like-the-mob-analysis-2021-5">approaching his company as if it were an organized crime operation</a>, given his experience representing public officials facing corruption charges and high-profile mobsters.Fischetti also had another likely selling point: He is a <a href="https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/trump-hires-criminal-defense-attorney-who-previously-partnered-with-prosecutor-investigating-his-business-dealings/">former close colleague</a> of Mark Pomerantz, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/manhattan-district-attorney-hires-mark-pomerantz-mafia-prosector-investigate-trump-2021-2">the prosecutor overseeing the case</a>.In the 1980s, Fischetti and Pomerantz led law firms that made a mark in New York's criminal defense scene, defending drug dealers, businessmen, and mob figures alike.Before Fischetti was the name behind law firm Fischetti &amp; Malgieri LLP, he was partner in the firms Fischetti, Feigus &amp; Pomerantz and Fischetti, Pomerantz, &amp; Russo LLP.Pomerantz joined Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr.'s team in February. On leave from the elite law firm Paul, Weiss, he <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/manhattan-da-trump-investigation-pace-jennifer-allen-weisselberg-2021-3">immediately brought a new gravity to the investigation</a>, which has been <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-tax-returns-explainer-donald-trump-organization-2021-2">looking into the Trump Organization's finances</a> for more than a year.Pomerantz also served several stints in high-profile positions at the US Justice Department <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/prosecutors-investigate-trump-organization-finances-like-the-mob-analysis-2021-5">that involved prosecuting mobsters and white collar criminals</a>. At one point during the Obama administration, he was <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/08/nyregion/08garcia.html">reportedly under consideration</a> for the US attorney position in Manhattan.In fact, when <keyword id="6355005" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="news">news</keyword> broke that Pomerantz joined the DA's team, Fischetti was among the first to sing his praises."I've been trying cases for a long time," <a href="https://www.law.com/newyorklawjournal/2021/02/23/perfect-guy-for-the-job-mark-pomerantz-brings-vast-experience-skill-to-manhattan-das-trump-investigation-lawyers-say/">Fischetti told the New York Law Journal at the time</a>. "He's the best lawyer I've ever worked with or against."Fischetti didn't respond to Insider's repeated interview requests for this story.<h2>A dean of the criminal defense bar</h2>Fischetti <a href="https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/trump-hires-criminal-defense-attorney-who-previously-partnered-with-prosecutor-investigating-his-business-dealings/">spent much of the late 1960s and 1970s</a> in <keyword id="6358883" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="politics">politics</keyword>, working as an aide for Democratic officials and unsuccessfully running for Congress on an anti-Vietnam War platform.With a law degree from St. John's University, he switched careers to criminal law, where he quickly rose to prominence. Fischetti mainly <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1992/03/26/nyregion/defending-mob-user-s-guide-for-defense-lawyers-favored-strategy-attack-attack.html">represented mobsters and crime families</a> in the 1980s and early 1990s.Nicholas Gravante, <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/2d757570-339c-4226-8e94-8de044cc52e4">the attorney representing Trump Organization COO Matthew Calamari</a>, described Fischetti as among the most skilled defense attorneys of the era - and someone who resisted cutting deals with prosecutors to avoid trials."At one point, he was law partners with my former mentor, Jerry Shargel, and the late James LaRossa," Gravante told Insider. "Ron is a very experienced criminal defense lawyer and the three of them, Fischetti, LaRossa and Shargel, were the deans of the criminal defense bar - who actually took cases to trial."<div type="image" title="gene gotti and ron fischetti" height="1725" width="2300" msid="85316510" hostid="261"></div>Fischetti's most prominent case was his defense of Gambino mobster Gene Gotti, who was sentenced to 50 years in prison. "When they say to somebody, as an example, 'if he does that again, I'll kill him,' they don't mean that they will physically kill him," Fischetti <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1992/03/26/nyregion/defending-mob-user-s-guide-for-defense-lawyers-favored-strategy-attack-attack.html">once told the New York Times</a> of his defense strategy. "It's a manner of speech."At around the same time, Fischetti and Pomerantz's firm participated in <a href="https://law.resource.org/pub/us/case/reporter/F2/935/935.F2d.501.90-6205.90-6155.676.677.html">a failed effort</a> to overturn an anti-money-laundering law that <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/21/nyregion/us-sues-law-firms-on-cash-clients-names.html">forces law firms to give information</a> about their clients to the IRS.In the early 2000s, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/08/nyregion/defense-lawyer-s-obsession-with-louima-case-is-about-to-be-tested.html">Fischetti grabbed headlines again</a> while representing a former NYPD officer, Charles Schwarz, in a case where Schwarz and a partner were accused of torturing a Haitian man, Abner Louima, and telling him it was "Giuliani time."A jury <a href="https://www.thecity.nyc/2019/12/4/21210657/louima-cop-back-on-public-payroll-as-a-nycha-carpenter">found Schwarz guilty</a> of violating Louima's civil rights and obstructing justice, but an appeals court overturned the conviction - though Schwarz was later sentenced for committing perjury in testimony related to the case.<div type="image" title="Charles Schwarz and Ron Fischetti" height="1024" width="1365" msid="85316512" hostid="261"></div>He has also represented other politicians. Fischetti represented South Carolina state Senator Gene Carmichael, <a href="https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/685/903/301765/">sentenced in 1982</a> to ten years in prison for a scheme that involved buying votes. And he successfully <a href="https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-07-01-mn-911-story.html">reversed a corruption conviction</a> against the former US Congressman Robert Garcia and his wife.Fischetti has also lectured at Harvard, Yale, Cardozo, Fordham, and New York University law schools, <a href="https://fischettilaw.com/ronald-p-fischetti/">according to a biography on his law firm's website</a>.<h2>'He has a lot of credibility'</h2>Fischetti's long relationship with the 70-year-old Pomerantz has served as an asset in handling the investigation. The two can speak to each other with mutual respect and trust, Gravante said."I think he's perfectly suited for his role in this case," Gravante said. "He's extremely experienced and respected. He has a lot of credibility, especially with Mark Pomerantz."Fischetti has belittled the Trump Organization investigation in public statements. Before prosecutors formally accused the company and its CFO, <keyword id="4145329" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="allen-weisselberg">Allen Weisselberg</keyword>, of tax evasion in early July, Fischetti <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2021/06/28/trump-lawyer-manhattan-da-wont-charge-496768">described the case as "much ado about nothing."</a> Weisselberg and lawyers for the company pleaded not guilty to the charges."In my more than 50 years of practice, never before have I seen a district attorney's office target a company over employee compensation or fringe benefits," <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/25/nyregion/trump-organization-criminal-charges.html">Fischetti told the New York Times</a> of the charges against Weisselberg."This is so small that I can't believe I'm going to have to try a case like this," <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2021/06/28/trump-lawyer-manhattan-da-wont-charge-496768">he told Politico</a>.<div type="image" title="Mark Pomerantz" height="1595" width="2127" msid="85316515" hostid="261"></div>Trump himself has gone further, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-acknowledges-tax-schemes-behind-charges-denies-theyre-crimes-2021-7">disparaging the investigation</a> while <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-acknowledging-tax-schemes-creates-legal-headache-2021-7">appearing to confirm Weisselberg avoided paying taxes</a>. Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., who remain executives at the Trump Organization, both mocked the investigation and described it as politically motivated.While Trump surrounds himself with political loyalists, his attorneys, while usually Republican, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-is-facing-legal-risk-on-many-fronts-meet-the-lawyers-in-his-corner-2021-4">aren't always outwardly partisan</a>. It isn't clear where Fischetti's political sympathies lie. He infrequently donates to politicians, but exclusively gives to Democrats, including a $1,000 donation for Hillary Clinton's 2000 run for US Senate, <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/donor-lookup/results?name=Ronald+Fischetti">according to Federal Election Commission records</a>.And Fischetti has avoided criticizing Pomerantz directly. In <a href="https://www.law.com/newyorklawjournal/2021/02/23/perfect-guy-for-the-job-mark-pomerantz-brings-vast-experience-skill-to-manhattan-das-trump-investigation-lawyers-say/">the interview he gave with the New York Law Journal</a> in February, before Trump hired him, he had only good things to say."There's nobody better to try a case with than Mark," he told the Journal. "He doesn't try to take the upper hand in the courtroom. He's calm; he's humorous."

Meet Ronald Fischetti, Trump's lawyer who used to run a law firm with the prosecutor investigating the Trump Organization

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="12338139" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="letitia-james" source="Orion">Letitia James</keyword> says she'll wait to depose <keyword id="11914386" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="donald-trump" source="Orion">Donald Trump</keyword>, <keyword id="12027548" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ivanka-trump" source="Orion">Ivanka Trump</keyword> and <keyword id="12062547" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="donald-trump-jr-" source="Orion">Donald Trump, Jr.</keyword> until after their appeal.</li></ul><ul class="summary-list"><li>The Trumps are fighting James' subpoena for their testimony; lawyers say the appeal will take months. </li></ul>In a new court filing Thursday, <keyword id="11892836" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="new-york" source="Orion">New York</keyword> Attorney General Letitia James agreed to wait until after the appeals process concludes before deposing Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump, Jr.The Trumps are appealing a February 17 <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-deposition-judge-order-new-york-ag-james-probe-2022-2">Manhattan Supreme Court judge's order</a> that the Trumps comply with James' subpoena for their testimony; James has been demanding since early December that all three sit for depositions in her probe into the family business.Lawyers for the Trumps had <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-deposition-appeal-court-dodge-testimony-ny-probe-2022-2">begun the appeals process</a> days after the judge's order.In Thursday's filing, James agreed that the Trumps' can appear for testimony "within 14 days of a decision" by a state appellate panel, assuming that the Trumps' appeal is unsuccessful.Attorneys for Trump and for James' office are in agreement over the delay — and are keeping it brief. The Trumps' lawyers have only until March 21 to file a full appeal; the AG's office has until March 31 to respond to the appeal.The two sides reached a consensus, "In the interest of efficiency for both parties and the court," wrote Kevin Wallace, senior enforcement counsel for the AG's office.Trump attorneys Ronald Fischetti, Alina Habba and Alan Futerfas also signed on to the expedited schedule.The sides also agreed that Donald Trump will comply with <a href="https://www.insider.com/letitia-james-trump-tower-files-court-battle-2022-2">a separate subpoena for his documents</a> by March 13; James is seeking the former president's personal business documents in her three year probe into possible financial wrongdoing at The Trump Organization. Justice Arthur Engoron, who is presiding over some two years' worth of disputes over The Trump Organization's compliance with the AG's numerous subpoenas, is expected to sign off on the schedule.

NY AG Letitia James OKs delay in depositions of Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump Jr. pending appeal

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The RNC paid more than $121,000 toward Trump's legal fees amid the criminal investigation in <keyword id="11892836" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="new-york" source="Orion">New York</keyword>.</li><li>The <keyword id="12005289" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="manhattan-da" source="Orion">Manhattan DA</keyword> and New York AG are investigating Trump over his financial practices.</li></ul>The Republican National Committee put more than $121,000 of funding towards former President <keyword id="11914386" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="donald-trump" source="Orion">Donald Trump</keyword>'s legal fees as he faces a criminal investigation over his financial practices in New York.In October, the committee made two payments totaling $121,670 to the law firm of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ronald-fischetti-trump-organization-investigation-lawyer-partners-mark-pomerantz-2021-8">Ronald Fischetti</a>, a criminal <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meet-lawyers-defending-donald-trump-former-president-legal-woes-mount-2021-8">defense attorney Trump hired</a> in April of this year amid the years-long investigation by the <keyword id="12307750" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="manhattan-district-attorney" source="Orion">Manhattan District Attorney</keyword>'s office into the <keyword id="11964533" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="trump-organization" source="Orion">Trump Organization</keyword> and the former president's business dealings.One payment of $58,240 was made on October 6 and another payment of $63,430 was made on October 13, per <keyword id="12021087" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="fec" source="Orion">FEC</keyword> filings seen by Insider.Though the party's executive committee approved the payments in recent weeks, the requests for the legal funds came over the summer, a person familiar with the matter told <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-rnc-legal-bills-ny-investigation-vance-james/2021/11/22/ef447f38-4bda-11ec-b73b-a00d6e559a6e_story.html">The Washington Post</a>.In May of this year, Manhattan DA <keyword id="12124267" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="cyrus-vance" source="Orion">Cyrus Vance</keyword> Jr. announced he was <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/manhattan-da-convenes-grand-jury-in-trump-probe-report-2021-5">convening a grand jury</a> as his office investigates whether the Trump Organization violated state tax laws "by keeping two sets of books — one for favorable tax and loan rates, and the other to pay little in taxes," <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/manhattan-da-convenes-grand-jury-in-trump-probe-report-2021-5">Insider's Sonam Sheth and Jacob Shamsian</a> reported.The inquiry into Trump and his company's finances is wide-ranging and has been underway for more than two years.The office of <keyword id="12266439" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="new-york-attorney-general" source="Orion">New York Attorney General</keyword> <keyword id="12338139" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="letitia-james" source="Orion">Letitia James</keyword> is also <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/morgan-lewis-hand-over-trump-org-docs-ny-ag-investigation-2021-1">investigating the Trump Organization's finances</a>, as well as the former president's personal finances, to determine if the company falsely inflated the value of Trump's assets for the purpose of loans and tax benefits.Another source familiar with the committee's discussions regarding paying Trump's legal bills told The Post that the RNC approved the decision because James had made past remarks targeting the former president.The source added that the organization is not paying legal fees related to the probe looking at Trump's role in the January 6 riot.Representatives from Trump's office, Fischetti's law firm, and the RNC did not immediately return Insider's request for comment."As a leader of our party, defending President Trump and his record of achievement is critical to the GOP," the party said in a written statement to The Post. "It is entirely appropriate for the RNC to continue assisting in fighting back against the Democrats' never-ending witch hunt and attacks on him."This isn't the first time the RNC has footed the bill for Trump's legal fees. In 2017, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-is-using-campaign-funds-to-pay-russia-investigation-legal-fees-2017-9">Trump used campaign funds and funding from the RNC</a> to pay his legal bills amid the investigation into alleged Russian interference in the US election.

The RNC paid more than $121,000 towards former President Donald Trump's personal legal bills as he faces a criminal investigation in New York

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The Manhattan DA's office may soon announce charges in its investigation into the <keyword id="293550" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Trump-Organization">Trump Organization</keyword>.</li><li>Trump's personal lawyer told Politico <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-lawyer-says-wont-be-charged-manhattan-da-first-indictment-2021-6">prosecutors assured him Trump would not be personally charged</a>.</li><li>But charges against executives in a first indictment will likely strengthen a case against Trump, legal experts say.</li></ul>The <keyword id="745058" type="POSITION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Manhattan-District-Attorney">Manhattan District Attorney</keyword>'s Office reportedly <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/manhattan-prosecutors-trump-organization-criminal-charges-nyt-2021-6">may file charges against the Trump Organization</a> and its chief financial officer this week, but one person they aren't likely to come after right now is <keyword id="6354484" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Donald-Trump">Donald Trump</keyword>.In <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2021/06/28/trump-lawyer-manhattan-da-wont-charge-496768">a Monday interview with Politico</a>, Trump lawyer Ronald Fischetti <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-lawyer-says-wont-be-charged-manhattan-da-first-indictment-2021-6">said Manhattan prosecutors assured him that Trump would not be personally charged</a>.But that doesn't mean the former president is definitively off the hook.Fischetti himself acknowledged to Politico that the investigation remains ongoing, and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-allen-weisselberg-hasnt-flipped-manhattan-da-trump-investigation-2021-6">charges against Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg</a> or any other particular executive in a first indictment will likely strengthen prosecutors' case, according to legal experts."The district attorney's office is looking to take all the oxygen out of the room," Randy Zelin, a defense attorney at Wilk Auslander LLP and former New York state prosecutor, told Insider. "And make those people who really don't want to go to jail little choice but to turn around and cooperate."The district attorney's office has not accused anyone of wrongdoing at this point, but it has <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-grand-jury-how-it-works-what-charges-jurors-bring-2021-6">empaneled a special grand jury</a> to weigh indictments in the case. Prosecutors may bring charges against Trump personally, the Trump Organization as a company, specific executives, or it may not bring charges at all.A representative for the Manhattan DA declined to comment. Through a representative, Fischetti declined Insider's request for comment.In a Friday interview with NBC <keyword id="6355005" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="news">News</keyword>, Fischetti said prosecutors want to use other witnesses to testify against Trump."They could not get <keyword id="4145329" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="allen-weisselberg">Allen Weisselberg</keyword> to cooperate and tell them what they wanted to hear, and that's why they are going forward with these charges," <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-organization-facing-possible-criminal-charges-sources-say-n1272411">Fischetti told NBC News</a>. "They could not get him to cooperate because he would not say that Donald Trump had knowledge or any information that he may have been not deducting properly the use of cars or an apartment."Charges against Trump's executives, or his company, would help prosecutors make that case.<h2>Trump's lawyer didn't rule out charges against him down the line</h2>For two years, the Manhattan DA's office has been investigating whether the Trump Organization broke state laws by <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-tax-returns-explainer-donald-trump-organization-2021-2">misrepresenting the value of its properties in order to pay little in taxes</a> while securing favorable loan and insurance rates. The investigation was sparked by testimony from Michael Cohen, the former Trump Organization executive who said the company illegally facilitated hush-money payments to Stormy Daniels. Prosecutors also reportedly have been examining whether the company or its executives broke laws by taking benefits like rent-free apartments, cars, and tuition payments from the company without paying the appropriate taxes.Fischetti told Politico that prosecutors informed him the Trump Organization would not be charged for crimes related to property value manipulation or hush-money payments - but they did not mention the tax-free benefits.He also did not mention the potential charges against Weisselberg. If prosecutors bring charges against Trump's money man, they may have a better chance of flipping him.They have already gone to great lengths subpoenaing Weisselberg's personal finances and even his grandchildren's school, where his ex-daughter-in-law, Jennifer Weisselberg, said he arranged for tuition payments. But the Trump loyalist <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-allen-weisselberg-hasnt-flipped-manhattan-da-trump-investigation-2021-6">still appears to resist agreeing to be a witness</a>.<div type="image" title="trump family allen weisselberg" height="3130" width="4174" msid="83940821" hostid="261"></div>"Once they're no longer bluffing and you've been charged, you'll see how quickly people who thought they could play games, and thought they could play poker with the district attorney's office, are now beating down the district attorney's office door to cooperate," Zelin told Insider.If he ultimately agreed to cooperate, Weisselberg would be a star witness in the case.Thanks to two wins at the Supreme Court, prosecutors already have reams of tax and other financial documents from the Trump Organization. But Weisselberg would be invaluable in presenting those documents to jurors and illustrating whether the company manipulated financial documents - and whether Trump played a role.Barbara Res, a former Trump Organization executive who worked with Weisselberg for nearly 20 years, previously told Insider that despite his steadfast loyalty to Trump, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/allen-weisselberg-matthew-calamari-may-flip-criminal-charges-2021-6">Weisselberg would probably agree to cooperate if he faced criminal charges</a>."It's a very different thing than just doing a favor for Trump or engendering his admiration," Res said. "Now you're asking people to take their loyalty to Trump, and keep it, even though they may have to go to jail for it."

If prosecutors charge Trump's company or one of its executives this week, the former president can still be targeted down the line

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Prosecutors told Trump's lawyers that the <keyword id="293550" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Trump-Organization">Trump Organization</keyword> could face criminal charges, per NYT.</li><li>The organization and CFO Allen Weisselberg could be charged as soon as next week, the report said.</li><li>The <keyword id="6355005" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="news">news</keyword> comes amid a two-year investigation into whether the company broke state laws.</li></ul>Prosecutors in the Manhattan district attorney's office told former President <keyword id="6354484" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Donald-Trump">Donald Trump</keyword>'s lawyers that the Trump Organization could face criminal charges, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/25/nyregion/trump-organization-criminal-charges.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The New York Times first reported on Friday</a>.Citing people with knowledge of the matter, The Times said that Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. could announce charges against the Trump Organization and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/allen-weisselberg-trump-organization-cfo-investigations-2021-3">its chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg</a>, as soon as next week.Trump's lawyers met with Manhattan prosecutors on Thursday hoping to persuade them to abandon charges against the company, The Times reported. Ronald Fischetti, an attorney representing the Trump Organization, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-organization-facing-possible-criminal-charges-sources-say-n1272411">confirmed the meeting in an interview with NBC News</a>."The corporate office will plead not guilty and we will make an immediate motion to dismiss the case against the corporation," Fischetti said.Fischetti said the prosecutors have not secured the cooperation of Weisselberg, which they have sought, and that they asked about Trump's personal involvement in possible tax crimes."They could not get Allen Weisselberg to cooperate and tell them what they wanted to hear, and that's why they are going forward with these charges," Fischetti told NBC News. "They could not get him to cooperate because he would not say that Donald Trump had knowledge or any information that he may have been not deducting properly the use of cars or an apartment."State prosecutors are nearing the end of a two-year investigation into whether Trump's sprawling real-estate company violated New York laws.The criminal inquiry began after Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer and fixer, said the Trump Organization had helped facilitate an illegal hush-money payment to the adult-film actress Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 election.Since then, the investigation has expanded to examine whether the company artificially inflated or deflated the value of its assets for loan and tax purposes. Prosecutors have also asked witnesses about perks that Trump Organization executives received, possibly without paying the appropriate taxes on them.It is not clear whether prosecutors in Vance's office will bring charges against the Trump Organization, Weisselberg, any other executives, or Trump himself. The office has <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-grand-jury-how-it-works-what-charges-jurors-bring-2021-6">empaneled a special grand jury</a> that is reportedly weighing whether to indict subjects of the investigation. The Trump Organization has denied wrongdoing.The investigation kicked into high gear in February when <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/supreme-court-trump-tax-returns-manhattan-disrict-attorney-vance-2021-2">the Supreme Court cleared the way</a> for Manhattan prosecutors <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-tax-returns-explainer-donald-trump-organization-2021-2">to obtain eight years of Trump's tax records</a>.In the months since, they have increased pressure on Weisselberg. Weisselberg has worked for the Trumps for more than four decades and is intimately familiar with the family's personal finances as well as the company's. Bringing charges against Weisselberg may make him more likely to cooperate, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-allen-weisselberg-hasnt-flipped-manhattan-da-trump-investigation-2021-6">legal experts told Insider</a>.Weisselberg's former daughter-in-law, Jennifer Weisselberg, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/manhattan-da-trump-investigation-pace-jennifer-allen-weisselberg-2021-3">previously told Insider</a> that she was cooperating with prosecutors. She said she'd given them a trove of documents and records obtained through her contentious divorce from Barry Weisselberg, Allen Weisselberg's son, who is also a Trump Organization employee. Prosecutors have also examined whether Barry Weisselberg received perks and did not pay taxes on them, Jennifer Weisselberg told Insider.This article has been updated.

Manhattan prosecutors could bring criminal charges against the Trump Organization and CFO Allen Weisselberg as soon as next week

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The <keyword id="12055609" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="rnc" source="Orion">RNC</keyword> agreed to pay $1.6 million towards <keyword id="11914386" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="donald-trump" source="Orion">Donald Trump</keyword>'s legal fees, several reports said. </li><li>They relate to investigations by NY prosecutors into Trump's businesses, not his time in office. </li></ul>The Republican National Committee (RNC) agreed to pay $1.6 million towards former President Donald Trump's legal costs as he battles investigations into his private businesses by New York prosecutors, according to reports. The payments, which were first reported by <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-rnc-legal-bills-ny-investigation-vance-james/2021/11/22/ef447f38-4bda-11ec-b73b-a00d6e559a6e_story.html">The Washington Post,</a> were approved by the RNC's executive committee at a meeting in October in Nashville. The report was later confirmed by <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/16/us/politics/rnc-trump-investigations.html">The New York Times. </a>Back in November it was reported that the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rnc-paid-trumps-legal-bills-amid-new-york-criminal-investigation-2021-11?r=US&amp;IR=T">RNC made two payments totalling $121,670</a> to the law firm of Ronald Fischetti.He is representing Trump in investigations being conducted into his business interests by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/prosecutors-looking-into-if-trump-lied-to-his-own-accountants-2021-12?r=US&amp;IR=T">and New York Attorney General Letitia James. </a>The total sum the RNC approved for Trump's legal fees is in fact much higher, according to the reports, and will build over the coming months to total of $1.6 million.The arrangement is unusual, as the investigations don't directly relate to Trump's political activities and his single term as a Republican president.Instead they relate to his sprawling businesses and their umbrella company, the Trump Organization, and have a scope that extends well before his time in <keyword id="11893346" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="politics" source="Orion">politics</keyword>.In a statement to The Washington Post, RNC spokesperson Emma Vaughn defended the arrangement, and confirmed that the party's executive committee approved "paying for certain legal expenses" related to Trump."As a leader of our party, defending President Trump and his record of achievement is critical to the GOP," she said."It is entirely appropriate for the RNC to continue assisting in fighting back against the Democrats' never-ending witch hunt and attacks on him."Insider contacted the RNC for comment. The RNC statement echoes Trump's longstanding claims that the investigations into his businesses are a politically motivated "witch hunt." He has vigorously denied any wrongdoing. The Manhattan district attorney's criminal inquiry <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-organization-investigation-manhattan-da-convenes-2nd-grand-jury-2021-11?r=US&amp;IR=T">is looking at </a>whether the Trump Organization was involved in tax fraud and asset inflation or devaluation schemes. The New York attorney general is conducting a parallel criminal inquiry. Trump continues to be the GOP's biggest political star, despite the clouds hanging over his legacy from the criminal probes into his businesses and the fallout from the January 6 riot at the US Capitol.Republican hopefuls in the mid-terms are clamoring for his endorsement, and he is stirring rumors of a bid to return to office in 2024.

The GOP agreed to pay $1.6 million of Trump's legal fees from NY investigations into his private businesses, reports say

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Trump Org. CFO <keyword id="12124265" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="allen-weisselberg" source="Orion">Allen Weisselberg</keyword>'s lawyer said they expect more indictments from the Manhattan DA.</li><li>"We have strong reason to believe other indictments are coming," the lawyer said Monday.</li><li>Weisselberg and the Trump Org. pleaded not guilty to 15 felony counts in July.</li></ul>A lawyer representing the <keyword id="11964533" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="trump-organization" source="Orion">Trump Organization</keyword>'s chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, said Monday morning that they have "strong reason to believe other indictments are coming" as part of the Manhattan DA's criminal probe into the company.He made the comment during <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/prosecutors-allen-weisselberg-lawyers-clash-trump-organization-case-2021-9">a status conference at the New York state Supreme Court on Monday</a>. The hearing came as prosecutors in the DA's office continue investigating whether former President Donald Trump's sprawling real-estate company violated state laws.The DA's office <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-organization-allen-weisselberg-read-indictment-manhattan-da-2021-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">charged the Trump Organization and Weisselberg</a> in July with 15 felony counts, accusing him of tax fraud and grand larceny.Prosecutors said the alleged criminal conduct was carried out as part of a "sweeping and audacious payment scheme" and that Weisselberg personally did not pay taxes on $1.7 million of his income dating back to March 2005.Weisselberg and the Trump Organization pleaded not guilty to the charges, which were laid out in <a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/20982368/new-york-v-trump-org-allen-weisselberg.pdf">a 25-page indictment</a>.Among other things, investigators accused the defendants of filing false tax returns and said they "devised and operated a scheme to defraud federal, New York State, and New York City tax authorities" to compensate Weisselberg and other Trump Organization executives "off the books."Days before the indictment came down, Weisselberg resigned from a trust set up to control the Trump Organization's assets, The Washington Post <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-org-cfo-began-resigning-his-positions-days-before-he-was-indicted-documents-show/2021/07/13/aa698b8e-e41e-11eb-a41e-c8442c213fa8_story.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>, citing government documents. The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/12/nyregion/weisselberg-trump-organization-removed-subsidiaries.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">also reported</a> that the company stripped Weisselberg of his leadership positions at subsidiaries.<h2>Other Trump Organization employees are under scrutiny</h2>Prosecutors <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/allen-weisselberg-trump-organization-cfo-investigations-2021-3">are also investigating</a> whether the CFO's two sons, Barry and Jack Weisselberg, failed to pay taxes on perks they received through the Trump Organization.They're believed to be trying to "flip" the elder Weisselberg into cooperating with the investigation, which could result in charges against Trump himself. Barry Weisselberg oversaw the Trump Organization's operations at the Wollman ice-skating rink in Central Park until earlier this year.The July indictment against Weisselberg and the company also <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/who-is-unindicted-co-conspirator-1-trump-organization-indictment-2021-7">referenced "Unindicted Co-Conspirator #1."</a> The <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reviews/out?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wsj.com%2Farticles%2Ftrump-organization-employees-to-testify-before-manhattan-grand-jury-11630527630">Wall Street Journal later reported</a> it was a reference to Jeffrey McConney, the company's controller, who <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jeff-mcconney-testified-donald-trump-misused-charity-funds-report-2021-7">testified to the grand jury following Weisselberg's arraignment</a>.Manhattan prosecutors are also examining whether Trump Organization COO Matthew Calamari received untaxed benefits. Nicholas Gravante, Calamari's lawyer, told Insider he's had ongoing discussions with prosecutors regarding Calamari. Gravante has secured immunity for the COO's son, Matthew Calamari Jr., who <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-organization-investigation-matthew-calamari-jr-testify-manhattan-da-jury-2021-9">has been subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury</a>. Prosecutors had also scrutinized the finances of the younger Calamari, who oversees the Trump Organization's security.<div type="image" title="allen weisselberg lawyers court hearing" height="1800" width="3600" msid="86383010" hostid="261"></div>In <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/prosecutors-havent-spoken-with-trump-lawyer-since-trump-organization-indictment-2021-9">an interview with Insider Monday</a>, Ronald Fischetti, the attorney representing Trump in the investigation, called for the case to be dropped. He said prosecutors had presented no evidence that the former president was involved in the alleged tax schemes."They have said nothing about the president knowing about this," Fischetti told Insider. "They have no tape recordings, they have no email, they have no text. They have no documents."At Monday morning's court hearing, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/prosecutors-allen-weisselberg-lawyers-clash-trump-organization-case-2021-9">prosecutors and defense lawyers butted heads</a> over how much time Weisselberg's attorneys could have to review six million pages of documents prosecutors have turned over in the investigation.Judge Juan Merchan gave Weisselberg's team until January 20 to submit pretrial motions, but Weisselberg's lawyer Bryan Skarlatos requested more time. Prosecutors pushed back, however, and said they gave defense attorneys the "core" documents relevant to the case at the beginning of July. Merchan said he expected to schedule a trial for August or September of 2022.Skarlatos raised concerns that his client would become "collateral damage" in the Manhattan DA's broader probe. But Solomon Shinerock, a prosecutor in Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance Jr.'s office, shot down that characterization and said, "With respect to the relevant financial documents, Mr. Weisselberg is the boss. He is not collateral damage here. He is an executive. He has been indicted by the grand jury."

Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg's lawyer says they have 'strong reason to believe other indictments are coming'

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="293550" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Trump-Organization">Trump Organization</keyword> executive <keyword id="10947601" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="matthew-calamari">Matthew Calamari</keyword> won't be charged this week, his lawyer says.</li><li>Manhattan prosecutors are investigating him and his son as part of their probe into the company.</li><li>Prosecutors are expected to bring some charges in their investigation as soon as this week.</li></ul>The office of Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. will not bring charges against Trump Organization COO Matthew Calamari this week as part of its wide-ranging criminal investigation into the former president's company finances, according to Calamari's lawyer.Nicholas Gravante Jr., who represents <a href="https://www.insider.com/who-is-matthew-calamari-trump-organization-employee-2019-2">both Calamari and his son, Matthew Calamari Jr.,</a> the Trump Organization's head of security, said that he doesn't expect either of them to be charged soon."Not withstanding whatever criminal charges may or may not be brought against others at this time, I do not expect charges to be brought against either of my clients," Gravante told Insider on Tuesday.Prosecutors in Vance's office <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/manhattan-prosecutors-trump-organization-criminal-charges-nyt-2021-6">are expected to bring charges in the case as soon as this week</a>. A representative for the DA's office declined Insider's request for comment.For two years, the Manhattan DA <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-tax-returns-explainer-donald-trump-organization-2021-2">has been investigating whether the Trump Organization broke tax, bank, and insurance laws</a> by misrepresenting the value of its properties.Prosecutors are also investigating whether particular executives took benefits like apartments without paying the appropriate taxes on them, or broke state finance laws by facilitating hush-money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, who claimed to have an affair with the former president.Ronald Fischetti, an attorney representing Trump in the case, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-lawyer-says-wont-be-charged-manhattan-da-first-indictment-2021-6">told Politico that prosecutors assured him</a> Trump would not personally be charged in the first indictment. The DA's office is reportedly weighing whether to bring charges against the Trump Organization or CFO <keyword id="4145329" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="allen-weisselberg">Allen Weisselberg</keyword> as well.Prosecutors have empaneled a special grand jury to weigh bringing indictments. The grand jury is expected to run through at least November, and may still bring charges against Calamari, other executives, the Trump Organization, or Trump himself in the future.<a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/donald-trump-bodyguard-matthew-calamari-11624308000">The Wall Street Journal reported earlier in June</a> that the DA's office was investigating whether the Calamaris, who both live in apartment buildings managed by the Trump Organization, received tax-free benefits.Neither Calamari is believed to have a role in evaluating properties or preparing taxes for the company.Prosecutors advised the Calamaris to hire their own attorney, according to the Journal, which reported they had previously been represented by an attorney who had other clients at the Trump Organization.

Trump Organization COO Matthew Calamari won't face criminal charges this week, his lawyer says

Welcome back to <a href="http://newsletter.businessinsider.com/join/10-things-in-politics">10 Things in Politics</a>. <a href="http://newsletter.businessinsider.com/join/10-things-in-politics">Sign up here to receive this newsletter</a>. Send tips to <a href="mailto:bgriffiths@insider.com">bgriffiths@insider.com</a> or tweet me at <a href="https://twitter.com/BrentGriffiths">@BrentGriffiths</a>.Here's what we're talking about:<ul><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meet-lawyers-defending-donald-trump-former-president-legal-woes-mount-2021-8">Meet the 12 lawyers defending Trump as the former president's legal woes mount</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-troops-stay-in-afghanistan-get-americans-out-biden-2021-8">Biden says the Afghanistan withdrawal might not end on time</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/arizona-audit-maricopa-county-seeks-28-million-to-replace-machines-2021-8">Maricopa County says the Arizona election "audit" means $2.8 million worth of equipment needs to be replaced</a></li></ul>With Phil Rosen.<hr /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meet-lawyers-defending-donald-trump-former-president-legal-woes-mount-2021-8"></a>1. ALL THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S MEN: Donald Trump has been dealt a string of legal setbacks over the summer. His business is facing criminal charges in New York, and Democratic lawmakers can now see some of his private financial records. Trump's legal team is no exception to the turnover that often rules his world, but <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meet-lawyers-defending-donald-trump-former-president-legal-woes-mount-2021-8">a mix of political allies, attorneys who cut their teeth representing mobsters, and once-unknown lawyers</a> are his best hope.Here's a look at some members of the team:<ul><li>Former congressman Doug Collins rose to national prominence during Trump's first impeachment. He then failed to secure the GOP's Senate nomination in Georgia. He has now rejoined a law firm in the state. Collins represented Trump when the former president decided not to try and block his former top DOJ officials from testifying to Congress about his efforts to overturn the election.</li><li>Alan Futerfas made a name for himself as a criminal defense lawyer representing mobsters. More recently, Futerfas represented Donald Trump Jr. during Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. Now, Futerfas is defending the Trump Organization as it faces tax-fraud charges.</li><li>Ronald Fischetti once worked with a top prosecutor on Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance's staff in the 1980s. Not surprisingly, he's now involved in helping Trump navigate Vance's investigation. Along with working with mobsters, Fischetti also has experience working with politicians accused of corruption.</li></ul><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meet-lawyers-defending-donald-trump-former-president-legal-woes-mount-2021-8">Read the entire list of the new lawyers in Trump's corner - none of whom are Rudy Giuliani.</a><hr />2. Biden says the Afghanistan withdrawal might not end on August 31: President Biden remains defiant in his decision to end America's longest war, but now concedes it may not be on the schedule he previously set. Biden told ABC News that troops will stay until every American who wants to leave is out of the country, though he did not explicitly state whether that would require keeping forces past the current deadline. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-troops-stay-in-afghanistan-get-americans-out-biden-2021-8">This would mark some of the first conditions Biden has put on a withdrawal.</a><ul><li>Top US general says Taliban's quick takeover was a surprise: Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley told reporters "there was nothing" he or other officials saw that indicated Afghanistan would fall to the Taliban in just 11 days. Milley also said there will be reviews into what happened, something White House officials have also said and lawmakers have begun demanding. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/general-milley-says-no-intel-afghanistan-would-collapse-so-fast-2021-8">Milley's comments come as questions arise over whether the US intelligence community failed to provide enough warning.</a></li></ul><div type="image" title="A man cries as he watches fellow Afghans get wounded by Taliban fighters" height="3000" width="6000" msid="85453909" hostid="261"></div>Other Afghanistan-related headlines:<ul><li>Trump and some Republicans are praising the Taliban: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-republicans-praise-taliban-despite-chest-thumping-jihadist-terrorism-2021-8">Trump said the militant group was "smart" and had "good fighters."</a></li><li>US veterans who served in Afghanistan are disappointed and heartbroken: <a href="https://www.insider.com/us-veterans-angry-over-taliban-takeover-in-afghanistan-2021-8">"I almost feel the same anger I felt on 9/11 all over again,</a>" one veteran told my colleague.</li><li>Afghan President Ashraf Ghani says he fled to avoid being hanged: Ghani further defended his decision to leave, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ex-afghan-pres-ashraf-ghani-says-he-fled-avoid-being-hanged-2021-8">saying that he wanted to prevent violence and the destruction of the capital once the Taliban entered the city.</a></li></ul><hr />3. White House pressures nursing homes over vaccines: Biden said he will leverage federal power to get nursing homes to vaccinate their staff, and instructed his education secretary to use whatever authority available to shield school officials who implement mask mandates for students and staff in defiance of statewide bans, The New York Times reports. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/18/us/politics/biden-schools-nursing-homes-booster.html">The administration's moves follow similar actions by US allies, but it puts Biden on a collision course with some GOP governors.</a><ul><li>Three leading experts question the need for booster shots: As expected, Biden gave the presidential stamp to most Americans receiving an extra dose of the COVID-19 vaccine eight months after their second shot. But not everyone is convinced that's really necessary. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/covid-experts-no-clear-evidence-boosters-needed-8-months-out-2021-8">Experts say the decision appears to be driven by the latest science, but they stressed booster shots won't end the pandemic when millions remain unvaccinated. </a></li></ul><hr />4. An Alabama doctor is reportedly refusing to treat unvaccinated patients: "If they asked why, I told them COVID is a miserable way to die and I can't watch them die like that," Dr. Jason Valentine, who works at Northside's Diagnostic and Medical Clinic in Saraland, Alabama, wrote in a since-deleted Facebook post, AL.com reports. <a href="https://www.insider.com/alabama-doctor-refuses-treat-unvaccinated-patients-covid-2021-8">Since he took his stance, he said patients have reached out asking where they can get the vaccine. </a><hr /><div type="image" title="AP21115681777352" height="1665" width="2221" msid="85453911" hostid="261"></div>5. County says Arizona election audit means $2.8 million worth of equipment needs to be replaced: Maricopa County's GOP-led Board of Supervisors decided to serve notice to the Arizona state Senate, saying it may file a lawsuit if the legislature does not come up with $2.8 million to cover the cost of replacing election equipment "compromised" by a partisan, third-party review of the 2020 election. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/arizona-audit-maricopa-county-seeks-28-million-to-replace-machines-2021-8">More on the latest fallout from the Cyber Ninja review that once hunted for bamboo ballots.</a><hr />6. T-Mobile hack exposed 40 million people: The cellphone carrier says hackers stole social security numbers and other personal information from current and prospective customers, The Wall Street Journal reports. Investigators say the information has already been hawked online and could lead to future fraud. <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/t-mobile-says-hackers-stole-details-on-more-than-40-million-people-11629285376?mod=hp_lead_pos4">This is among the largest thefts of social security numbers.</a><ul><li>The company has an online portal <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/brand/data-breach-2021">for those potentially affected</a>.</li></ul><hr />7. EPA reverses on Trump-era decision, bans pesticide linked to children's health problems: The Biden administration will ban the use of chlorpyrifos, "a widely used pesticide long targeted by environmentalists on food crops because it poses risks to children and farmworkers," the Associated Press reports. Studies have linked the pesticide to potential brain damage in children and fetuses that could lead to reduced IQ, memory loss, and attention deficit disorders. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-environment-and-nature-2a947da437b57b8ee819cb46f2196aaa">More on the news.</a><hr />8. Sen. Ted Cruz's campaign purchased $153,000 in books after his latest came out: Cruz may have used up $153,000 in campaign funds when he was running for senator last year to buy his own book, Forbes reports. The Texas Republican's campaign spent $153,000 at retailer Books-a-Million, though it's not clear what books were purchased. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ted-cruz-may-have-spent-campaign-funds-buying-own-book-2021-8">It's not illegal for US senators to buy their own books with campaign funds, but there are limits on what they can do with royalties.</a><ul><li>Meanwhile, Rep. Matt Gaetz failed to properly disclose his book money: Gaetz made $25,000 in royalties on his pro-Trump tome, "Firebrand: Dispatches from the Front Lines of the MAGA Revolution." The Florida Republican failed to include the information on a yearly form, appearing to violate House rules. His office said it was amending the form. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/matt-gaetz-failed-to-disclose-book-firebrand-royalties-2021-8">More on Gaetz's latest trouble.</a></li></ul><hr />9. China looks to regulate its wealth gap: President Xi Jinping said he plans to expand the country's middle class and focus on "common prosperity." Chinese officials also called for wealthier citizens to give back to society as they take a hardline on unequal wealth distribution. <a href="https://www.insider.com/china-regulate-excessive-wealth-common-prosperity-2021-8">See the numbers behind China's vision of the future.</a><hr /><div type="image" title="rocket body explosions illustration space debris junk esa" height="2479" width="3306" msid="85453913" hostid="261"></div>10. Inside the first big space crash in a decade: A Chinese satellite seemed to have collided with a piece of a Russian rocket in March. A Space Force data log recorded the probable crash, which created 37 known bits of debris. Smaller, non-catastrophic collisions in space may become increasingly common, according to one expert - <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chinese-satellite-russian-rocket-piece-may-have-crashed-in-space-2021-8">see how we can avoid more of these crashes.</a><hr />Today's trivia question: This weekend marks the anniversary of Hawaii becoming the 50th state. What day did the 50th star on the US flag become official? Email your guess and a suggested question to me at <a href="mailto:bgriffiths@insider.com">bgriffiths@insider.com</a>.<ul><li>Yesterday's answer: The White House had its nickname for years, <a href="https://www.whitehousehistory.org/questions/how-did-the-white-house-get-its-name">but it took President Theodore Roosevelt's 1901 direction to make it official.</a></li></ul>

10 Things in Politics: Trump's new legal defense crew

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Trump Org. executives may cooperate with prosecutors if facing criminal charges, a former EVP said.</li><li><keyword id="4145329" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="allen-weisselberg">Allen Weisselberg</keyword> and <keyword id="10947601" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="matthew-calamari">Matthew Calamari</keyword> can't stomach prison time, <keyword id="10389022" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="barbara-res">Barbara Res</keyword> said.</li><li>Res said they don't have "black hearts" like former Trump aides <keyword id="3319560" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Paul-Manafort">Paul Manafort</keyword> and Roger Stone.</li></ul>A former <keyword id="293550" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Trump-Organization">Trump Organization</keyword> executive said two top employees under scrutiny in the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/prosecutors-investigate-trump-organization-finances-like-the-mob-analysis-2021-5">Manhattan district attorney's investigation</a> into the company might cooperate if prosecutors introduce criminal charges against them.Barbara Res, a former executive vice president at the Trump Organization, told Insider she believed that Allen Weisselberg and Matthew Calamari wouldn't be able to stomach prison time, nor risk criminal charges against their sons who are employed at the company."If you introduce the notion of criminal charges against any one of them, or their children, you change the game completely," she said.Res said she doesn't have firsthand knowledge of the <keyword id="745058" type="POSITION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Manhattan-District-Attorney">Manhattan district attorney</keyword>'s or New York attorney general's investigation, and hasn't been contacted by prosecutors from either office.For two years, investigators have examined whether the Trump Organization or its executives committed tax, bank, or insurance fraud. The Manhattan DA's office gave the company a Monday-afternoon deadline to complete its arguments against being charged, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-organization-charges-deadline/2021/06/27/d944a822-d5e0-11eb-9f29-e9e6c9e843c6_story.html">The Washington Post</a> reported.People with knowledge of the matter told The New York Times that <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/manhattan-prosecutors-trump-organization-criminal-charges-nyt-2021-6">prosecutors may announce</a> criminal charges against <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/allen-weisselberg-trump-organization-cfo-investigations-2021-3">Weisselberg</a>, the Trump Organization's chief financial officer and the company and family bookkeeper of 40 years, as soon as this week.Manhattan prosecutors have <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/allen-weisselberg-trump-organization-cfo-investigations-2021-3">sought Weisselberg's cooperation</a> and examined the finances of his son Barry, who is also a Trump Organization employee. Jennifer Weisselberg, Barry's ex-wife and a cooperating witness in the investigation, previously told Insider that the couple received <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-organization-control-employees-apartment-tuition-instead-salary-source-2021-3">tax-free perks</a> from the company.Prosecutors also told Calamari, the Trump Organization's chief operating officer, to hire an attorney, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ny-prosecutors-investigate-trump-bodyguard-matthew-calamari-employee-perks-wsj-2021-6">The Wall Street Journal</a> reported. They've asked about the possibility that Calamari skirted taxes on company perks, The Journal reported.<h2>The former executive said Weisselberg and Calamari can't stomach prison time</h2>Res worked for the Trump Organization between 1980 and 1998, overseeing construction projects. During the 2020 election, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/barbara-res-donald-trump-real-estate-trump-tower-2020-11">she wrote a book</a> about Trump and what she described as his condescending treatment of employees.She told Insider that Weisselberg and Calamari, both colleagues during her years at the company, have been loyal to Trump. But she said neither could stomach prison time."It's a very different thing than just doing a favor for Trump or engendering his admiration," she said. "Now you're asking people to take their loyalty to Trump, and keep it, even though they may have to go to jail for it - or worse, their child may have to go to jail.""I don't know that either Calamari or Weisselberg can do that," she added.<div type="image" title="Matthew Calamari" height="2675" width="3567" msid="83931290" hostid="261"></div>Ronald Fischetti, an attorney representing the Trump Organization, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/manhattan-prosecutors-trump-organization-criminal-charges-nyt-2021-6">told NBC News</a> on Friday that Allen Weisselberg was not cooperating with prosecutors, who wanted him to implicate Trump in wrongdoing."They could not get him to cooperate because he would not say that <keyword id="6354484" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Donald-Trump">Donald Trump</keyword> had knowledge or any information that he may have been not deducting properly the use of cars or an apartment," he said.Jennifer Weisselberg previously told Insider she expected her former father-in-law to cooperate. She said Allen Weisselberg holds Trump in high esteem, but would do anything to protect his son.<div type="image" title="donald trump jr allen weisselberg" height="1722" width="2296" msid="83931294" hostid="261"></div>Legal experts told Insider that <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-allen-weisselberg-hasnt-flipped-manhattan-da-trump-investigation-2021-6">Weisselberg may be holding out</a> for as long as possible to increase his leverage and ensure he won't have to go to prison.Manhattan prosecutors have <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-grand-jury-how-it-works-what-charges-jurors-bring-2021-6">empaneled a special grand jury</a> that may bring charges against the Trump Organization, particular executives, or Trump himself. They have not made any accusations of wrongdoing at this point, and it's possible no charges will be brought.Trump himself has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and has described the investigations into his conduct as politically motivated.<h2>Top Trump Organization brass aren't 'evil' like Paul Manafort and Roger Stone, the former executive said</h2>Res drew a distinction between Weisselberg and Calamari and Trump loyalists Roger Stone and Paul Manafort.Manafort, a longtime Republican operative who led Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, was convicted of numerous crimes, including fraud and witness tampering. Stone, another longtime Republican operative who worked for Trump, was convicted of lying to the FBI and witness tampering.Res said she believed that Manafort and Stone refused to cooperate with prosecutors because they knew Trump would pardon them. Trump pardoned Manafort and commuted Stone's prison sentence shortly before the end of his presidential term.Weisselberg and Calamari, she said, have no shot at a pardon: They're being investigated under state law in New York, where the governor is a Democrat."There is no pardon," Res said. "There's no 'get out of jail free' card. It's different."<div type="image" title="Manafort " height="2172" width="2897" msid="83931301" hostid="261"></div>Res, who's known Calamari and Weisselberg for decades, said neither of them had the inherent darkness of the Trump loyalists who were convicted."Manafort and Stone - those guys are animals. They have evil hearts," she said. "I knew Matt very well, and I know Allen pretty well. I don't see them as having evil hearts like Trump and Manafort and Roger Stone."Neither Weisselberg nor Calamari have made public statements or been photographed much since Trump took office. Res said she believed that the two executives are likely uncomfortable with the attention around the investigation. Now, reporters are looking into Weisselberg's and Calamari's personal lives, apartments, and grandchildren's schools."We hardly heard their names for four years when Trump was president," Res said. "Now all of a sudden they're in every paper."

You Searched For "ronald fischetti" and got 13 results

Trump lawyer says he's 'disappointed' by the resignation letter of a Manhattan DA prosecutor his former law partner — that accuses the ex-president of 'numerous felony violations'

Jacob Shamsian,Laura Italiano

Trump's lawyer says he's not worried prosecutors named Trump personally in the tax-fraud indictment against his namesake company

Jacob Shamsian

Manhattan DA prosecutors haven't spoken with Trump's lawyer since indicting his company on tax-crime charges

Jacob Shamsian

Meet Ronald Fischetti, Trump's lawyer who used to run a law firm with the prosecutor investigating the Trump Organization

Jacob Shamsian

NY AG Letitia James OKs delay in depositions of Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump Jr. pending appeal

Laura Italiano

The RNC paid more than $121,000 towards former President Donald Trump's personal legal bills as he faces a criminal investigation in New York

Lauren Frias

If prosecutors charge Trump's company or one of its executives this week, the former president can still be targeted down the line

Jacob Shamsian

Manhattan prosecutors could bring criminal charges against the Trump Organization and CFO Allen Weisselberg as soon as next week

Sonam Sheth

The GOP agreed to pay $1.6 million of Trump's legal fees from NY investigations into his private businesses, reports say

Tom Porter

Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg's lawyer says they have 'strong reason to believe other indictments are coming'

Sonam Sheth

Trump Organization COO Matthew Calamari won't face criminal charges this week, his lawyer says

Jacob Shamsian

10 Things in Politics: Trump's new legal defense crew

Brent D. Griffiths

Trump Organization executives can't stomach prison time and may flip if faced with criminal charges, former EVP says

Jacob Shamsian

You Searched For "ronald fischetti" and got 13 results

Trump lawyer says he's 'disappointed' by the resignation letter of a Manhattan DA prosecutor his former law partner &mdash; that accuses the ex-president of 'numerous felony violations'

Jacob Shamsian,Laura Italiano

Trump's lawyer says he's not worried prosecutors named Trump personally in the tax-fraud indictment against his namesake company

Jacob Shamsian

Manhattan DA prosecutors haven't spoken with Trump's lawyer since indicting his company on tax-crime charges

Jacob Shamsian

Meet Ronald Fischetti, Trump's lawyer who used to run a law firm with the prosecutor investigating the Trump Organization

Jacob Shamsian

NY AG Letitia James OKs delay in depositions of Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump Jr. pending appeal

Laura Italiano

The RNC paid more than $121,000 towards former President Donald Trump's personal legal bills as he faces a criminal investigation in New York

Lauren Frias

If prosecutors charge Trump's company or one of its executives this week, the former president can still be targeted down the line

Jacob Shamsian

Manhattan prosecutors could bring criminal charges against the Trump Organization and CFO Allen Weisselberg as soon as next week

Sonam Sheth

The GOP agreed to pay $1.6 million of Trump's legal fees from NY investigations into his private businesses, reports say

Tom Porter

Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg's lawyer says they have 'strong reason to believe other indictments are coming'

Sonam Sheth

Trump Organization COO Matthew Calamari won't face criminal charges this week, his lawyer says

Jacob Shamsian

10 Things in Politics: Trump's new legal defense crew

Brent D. Griffiths

Trump Organization executives can't stomach prison time and may flip if faced with criminal charges, former EVP says

Jacob Shamsian

Trump lawyer says he's 'disappointed' by the resignation letter of a Manhattan DA prosecutor his former law partner — that accuses the ex-president of 'numerous felony violations'