Heather Vogeli of ProPublica reports on property tax documents of Trump properties and reports some troubling discrepancies.
The story begins:
Documents obtained by ProPublica show stark differences in how Donald Trump’s businesses reported some expenses, profits and occupancy figures for two Manhattan buildings, giving a lender different figures than they provided to New York City tax authorities. The discrepancies made the buildings appear more profitable to the lender — and less profitable to the officials who set the buildings’ property tax.
For instance, Trump told the lender that he took in twice as much rent from one building as he reported to tax authorities during the same year, 2017. He also gave conflicting occupancy figures for one of his signature skyscrapers, located at 40 Wall Street.
Lenders like to see a rising occupancy level as a sign of what they call “leasing momentum.” Sure enough, the company told a lender that 40 Wall Street had been 58.9% leased on Dec. 31, 2012, and then rose to 95% a few years later. The company told tax officials the building was 81% rented as of Jan. 5, 2013.
New York City’s property tax forms state that the person signing them “affirms the truth of the statements made” and that “false filings are subject to all applicable civil and criminal penalties.”
The punishments for lying to tax officials, or to lenders, can be significant, ranging from fines to criminal fraud charges. Two former Trump associates, Michael Cohen and Paul Manafort, are serving prison time for offenses that include falsifying tax and bank records, some of them related to real estate.
This explains why Trump is so determined to hide his tax returns and is marshaling the resources of the Justice Department to conceal his business affairs. This may be the first time in history that the Justice Department shielded potentially criminal behavior.
The discrepancies are “versions of fraud,” said Nancy Wallace,
I’d love to see Trump in prison for tax fraud. I’d love to see him in prison for anything. He has abused his wealth and hurt many people. It’s past time for him to be held accountable for any of his misdeeds.
“Lock him up!” and throw away the key. It’s the only way to shut him up.
I think Michael Cohen’s testimony described this to Congress. Trump was running 2 sets of books- one for property taxes and one for the banks.
Put another way: Trump had two sets of books: one for investors, one for tax collectors.
The first valuation was high, the second was low.
That’s called tax fraud.
and therefore surely MUST be prosecuted
On a related matter:
A Tale of Two Nixons: Executive Branch Officials Must Comply with House Subpoenas
“Cornell law professor Michael C. Dorf explains why U.S. Supreme Court cases—confusingly, Nixon v. United States and United States v. Nixon—together should foreclose any legal arguments that might have supported President Trump’s strategy to fight impeachment. Dorf explains each of the precedents and their bearing on today’s situation.”
The post is brief. The writing is clear and lively. https://verdict.justia.com/2019/10/16/a-tale-of-two-nixons-executive-branch-officials-must-comply-with-house-subpoenas?utm_source=summary-newsletters&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2019-10-16-supreme-court-of-ohio-e7dfba580c&utm_content=text-verdict-title-1
Diane, you are TERRIFIC. Thank you for this information. Hooray.
That monster has committed high treason in America and MURDER here and abroad.
https://www.snopes.com/news/2016/06/23/donald-trump-rape-lawsuit/
Teflon Don II, the Sequel
Trump is a sexual predator and can get away with it because he is famous. [Time for Teflon Don to be caught.]
Donald Trump Rape Accusation
Jul 3, 2016
Katie Johnson describes her alleged rape by Donald Trump.
What he does/did was bank fraud.
In addition to his sex crimes, money laundering for Russian mobsters, stiffing creditors, tax evasion, treason (serving as an asset of a foreign power), obstruction of justice, misappropriation of charitable funds, violation of the emoluments clauses of the Constitution, violation of campaign finance laws, lying to state and federal investigators, incitement of terrorist acts (telling his aides to have border patrol officers shoot legal asylum seekers), and crimes against humanity (kidnapping, separation of parents and children, negligent homicide, denial/obstruction of legal rights such as the right to seek asylum)
This from Mother Jones, explains so much… MUST READ! TRUST ME!
I Am The Bank” Mother Jones: Donald Trump Has Never Explained a Mysterious $50 Million Loan. Is It Evidence of Tax Fraud?
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2019/09/donald-trump-has-never-explained-a-mysterious-50-million-chicago-unit-acquisition-loan-is-it-evidence-of-tax-fraud/
That is amazing!