'WITCH HUNT'
NEW York prosecutors are turning the US into a "banana republic" after indicting the Trump Organization and its CFO on $1.7million tax fraud charges, according to Donald Trump Jr.
comments came after his father's company and , 73, pleaded not guilty over an alleged 15-year tax fraud scheme.
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Donald Jr, who is an executive vice president at the Trump Organization, said the case was the “political persecution of a political enemy”.
He told Fox News: “This is what does. Just ask Navalny. That’s what happened in . It’s the equivalent of , Russia, Russia.
“After five years, three million documents, countless witnesses and hours of grand jury testimony and forensic auditors, this is what they come up with.
“This is banana republic stuff and if our press was even a little bit intellectually honest, they would be calling it that.”
Don Jr accused prosecutors of deliberating announcing the charges days before the July 4th weekend and accused officials of trying “to destroy a man’s life and reputation”.
Trump’s eldest son also claimed the $1.7million number was income.
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He said: “The taxable portion of that to New York state is eight percent. That’s $136,000 over 16 years. That’s ten grand a year. Half of that, because my father is a good guy, he paid for this guy’s grandchildren's education.”
Trump Jr said: "Instead of persecuting actual murderous thugs on the streets of New York, they go after their political enemies”.
His comments came after branded the charges a
In a statement, the former president said: "The political Witch Hunt by the Radical Left , with New York now taking over the assignment, continues. It is dividing our Country like never before!"
Weisselberg was seen Thursday with his hands cuffed behind his back while wearing a face mask.
During the hearing, Weisselberg was forced to hand over his passport as attorneys believe he is a flight risk.
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Prosecutor Carey Dunne described a 15-year scheme "orchestrated by the most senior executives," including Weisselberg, that was "sweeping and audacious."
Trump was not charged at this stage of the probe that is being jointly pursued by District Attorney Cyrus Vance and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
Both Democrats, and Dunne asserted politics played no role in the decision to bring charges.
Both the Trump Organization and Weisselberg entered pleas of not guilty, with the finance boss leaving the building uncuffed. He was released without having to post bail.
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Weisselberg turned himself in at the district attorney's office at roughly 6.20am on Thursday, accompanied by his lawyer Mary Mulligan.
In a statement on Weisselberg's behalf, Mulligan said: "Mr Weisselberg intends to plead not guilty and he will fight these charges in court."
Following the news, the Trump Organization issued a statement praising the finance mogul as "loving and devoted" before slamming the DA.
Weisselberg used to before .
He managed a prized ice rink in the heart of Central Park and chief financial officer, served as vice president of Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts in 2000, and of the Donald J. Trump Foundation.
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He became a focus of the probe when investigators discovered he allegedly let his son have access to a Trump apartment without paying much or anything for it, according to the AP.
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Part of their inquiry has been to question Weisselberg's ex-wife, Jennifer, who reportedly turned over stacks of tax records and other documents to investigators.
She recalled in a New York Times interview: "They're like Batman and Robin."
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