New York prosecutors list specific criminal charges Trump may face after they get his tax returns

Trump versus Manhattan on tax filings
(Image credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

The Manhattan district attorney's office said in a court filing Monday that President Trump and his family company could face several criminal charges stemming from its ongoing investigation of the Trump Organization, listing insurance and criminal tax fraud, falsification of business records, and scheme to defraud. The filing, with the U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals, was careful not to accuse Trump or his business of any crimes, but it said public reports of wrongdoing justify District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr.'s subpoena for Trump's tax filings from Trump's accounting firm, Mazars USA.

Vance's office is squaring off against Trump in a long legal battle that has already gone to the Supreme Court, which ruled in Vance's favor. The high court dismissed Trump's argument that he has total immunity from prosecution, but it did allow Trump to seek to block the subpoena for his tax records on narrower grounds. U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero rejected Trump's revamped argument that Vance's request was too broad, and a 2nd Circuit appellate court panel is hearing oral arguments Friday.

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The public is unlikely to learn what's in Trump's closely guarded tax filings before Election Day, even if the appellate court allows Vance's office immediate access to the filings and the Supreme Court declines to weigh in again. The tax records would be examined by a grand jury, in proceedings guarded by secrecy rules, and they would become public only if submitted as evidence after Vance's office filed charges against Trump or his business.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.