The Trump Organization is already taking steps to distance itself from longtime Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg in the midst of his criminal tax fraud case. The Wall Street Journal first reported on Monday that the company has removed Weisselberg as an officer from some of its subsidiaries. It comes after New York prosecutors filed a 15-count indictment against him and The Trump Organization alleging longtime tax fraud and other charges.
These steps do not appear to be an indication that the Trump family is concerned that Weisselberg, a fixture in the Trump family businesses for decades, has turned on the family.
More from the WSJ:
The removal of Mr. Weisselberg as an officer from multiple Trump Organization entities comes amid discussions of potential changes in the chief financial officer’s duties, responsibilities and possibly title at former President Donald Trump’s company, people familiar with the matter said. Mr. Weisselberg, who has worked for the Trump family since 1973, is expected to remain at the company, the people said.
One company that is facing charges in the same criminal case as Weisselberg is the Trump Payroll Corp. That firm previously listed Mr. Weisselberg as treasurer, director, vice president and secretary, according to Florida Department of State business records. The former president’s two adult sons have now replaced Weisselberg in many of those positions, at least on official papers. Donald Trump Jr. is now listed as executive vice president, director, secretary, treasurer and vice president on records filed last week.
Eric Trump is now listed as president, director and chairman on those records.
Weisselberg was also removed last week as a director at Trump International Golf Club Scotland Limited, a company tied to Mr. Trump’s Scotland golf course, according to a filing in Companies House, the U.K.’s registrar of companies. This was first noted in a tweet by a reporter for the Scottish newspaper, The Scotsman.
Prosecutors filed charges against Weisselberg and the Trump Organization on July 1 alleging a long-running scheme to avoid paying taxes to the IRS. Weisselberg is accused of evaded taxes on perks valued at $1.76 million dollars. The off-the-books perks included cars, apartments, and even tuition for his relatives.
Weisselberg pleaded not guilty.