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THE MAGA PARTY!,,, the GOP is dead, republicans are going down with the dems,, get ready for THE MAGA PARTY lefty's
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2022-02-15 at 6:29 AM UTCand yeah, 'losing' all the weapons you were smuggling into Mexico to try and track cartel movements, then pretending it never happened, is pretty serious.
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2022-02-15 at 7:26 AM UTC
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2022-02-15 at 2:43 PM UTCTRUMP WAS RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING!!!
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2022-02-15 at 2:46 PM UTC
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2022-02-15 at 3:17 PM UTC"WE'VE GOT HIM NOW!"
INSIDER
Trump's accountants quit — in the midst of preparing his and Melania's taxes — after questioning 'discrepancies'
litaliano@insider.com (Laura Italiano)
Accountants stopped preparing Donald and Melania Trump's taxes after questioning "discrepancies."
Mazars USA told the Trump Organization it had halted its relationship with him, court papers say.
The company is distancing itself from key evidence in a criminal probe into alleged financial fraud.
Donald Trump's longtime accountants have suddenly severed all ties with the former president and his business — quitting while in the midst of preparing his and Melania Trump's tax returns.
In a letter made public Monday by New York's attorney general, Letitia James, the accounting firm, Mazars USA, told the Trump Organization's top corporate lawyer it had stepped away from Trump and his business because of questions about the reliability of key company financial statements.
News of Mazars USA's stunning move surfaced in papers filed Monday by James as part of New York prosecutors' inquiry into possible banking, insurance, and tax fraud on the part of Trump and his business.
Since at least 2004, Mazars has prepared annual financial statements — so-called Statements of Financial Condition — containing detailed estimates of Trump's net worth.
Trump has used these statements to secure hundreds of millions of dollars in loans and insurance over the years.
In court documents filed over the past two years, James has alleged that Trump exaggerated his worth when trying to impress bankers and downplayed his worth when seeking lower taxes.
"Last week, after review of [the AG office's] filings, Donald J. Trump's and the Trump Organization's former accounting firm informed the Trump Organization that the Statements of Financial Condition from 2011 through 2020 should no longer be relied upon," James wrote in papers filed Monday.
James filed the papers in Manhattan Supreme Court, as part of a civil lawsuit seeking to compel Trump, his daughter Ivanka, and his son Donald Jr., to comply with subpoenas from her office requiring their documents and testimony.
As part of her filing, James included a copy of the letter Mazars sent to Alan Garten, the chief legal officer of the Trump Organization.
In the letter, Mazars' top attorney, William J. Kelly, tells Garten that after speaking with the attorney general's office, and after their own investigation, they realized the accountant firm could no longer represent the former president or his business.
"The Statements of Financial Condition for Donald J. Trump for the years ending June 30, 2011 - June 30, 2020 should no longer be relied upon," the letter said.
"We have come to this conclusion based, in part, upon the filings made by the New York Attorney General on January 18, 2022, our own investigation, and information received from internal and external sources," the letter continued.
"While we have not concluded that the various financial statements, as a whole, contain material discrepancies, based upon the totality of the circumstances, we believe our advice to you to no longer rely upon those financial statements is appropriate."
Mazars' lawyer went on to say that continuing to do accounting work for the Trump Organization would be "a non-waivable conflict of interest" — suggesting Mazars is weighing its own potential criminal liability.
"As a result, we are not able to provide any new work product to the Trump Organization," the letter continued, adding that the Trumps' tax returns were among the "limited number" that still remained to be filed.
Garten did not immediately respond to a request for comment; neither did attorneys for Trump and Mazars. -
2022-02-15 at 3:19 PM UTC
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2022-02-15 at 3:19 PM UTC
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2022-02-15 at 3:57 PM UTCBusiness Insider
One of MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell's banks has cut ties with him a month after citing him as a 'reputation risk'
insider@insider.com (Cheryl Teh)
The Minnesota Bank & Trust is terminating its business relationship with MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell.
Insider obtained documents advising Lindell that his accounts would be closed February 18.
A month earlier, the bank called Lindell a "reputation risk" in a talk with the pillow CEO's staff.
MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell has been terminated as a client by the Minnesota Bank & Trust a month after the financial institution described him as a "reputation risk."
Insider viewed two letters sent to Lindell by the bank dated February 11. In one letter, the bank said Lindell's accounts with the bank would be closed by the end of business on February 18.
"Any remaining collected balance in the account scheduled to be closed will be mailed to the address we have on file. Alternatively, before February 18, 2022, you may transfer, using online banking, the remaining balance directly to your other banking institutions," the letter said.
Lindell told Insider he had nine accounts at the bank and none were related to his main MyPillow business. He said one account at the bank was connected to his website Frank Speech and another was linked to the Lindell Recovery Network, the pillow CEO's platform for people with addiction.
Lindell told Insider he was "disgusted" by the bank and accused it of "de-banking" and "canceling" him.
"They just said, 'Mike Lindell's in the public eye, and we don't want to be part of the news.' And now they're in the news, aren't they?" Lindell told Insider. "They are evil for canceling us."
Lindell added that he thought "someone" had "gotten to" the bank and motivated it to terminate its relationship with him.
"I've been in the news every day for a long time now," Lindell said, adding that he thought the bank was trying to "destroy" him and Frank Speech. "They just want to attack Mike Lindell and close his accounts," he said. "That's what I think."
Lindell told Insider he had secured a backup bank but declined to name it. He added that there wouldn't be any disruptions to broadcasting on Frank Speech, the website from which he hosts his nightly "Lindell Report," an hourlong daily show.
According to Lindell, his being subpoenaed by the January 6 House select committee for his phone records raised concerns at the Minnesota Bank & Trust and its parent company, Heartland Financial USA. He said senior executives at the financial institutions deemed him a "reputation risk" in a call with MyPillow's financial controller.
"But what if somebody came in and said, 'You know what? We're going to subpoena all of his account records and this and that,' and we make the news?" a man Lindell identified as Tom Cardle, a senior vice president at Minnesota Bank & Trust, was heard saying in voice recordings obtained by Insider.
Cardle didn't respond to requests for comment on whether he was in the recordings; the phone number, however, was linked to an office line associated with him.
A representative for the Minnesota Bank & Trust didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on the closing of Lindell's accounts.
Lindell remains one of the most vocal supporters of former President Donald Trump, and he recently told Insider he'd spent $25 million pushing Trump's voter-fraud claims. He is embroiled in a $1.3 billion defamation lawsuit with the voting-machine company Dominion Voting Systems and a separate defamation suit with the voting company Smartmatic, both of which are suing him for peddling baseless voter-fraud claims. -
2022-02-15 at 3:58 PM UTCyou think it's appropriate for a bank to refuse service based on someone's political views?
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2022-02-15 at 4:03 PM UTC
Originally posted by aldra you think it's appropriate for a bank to refuse service based on someone's political views?
It's not really political views, it's using his company as a platform to talk laughable nonsense for literally years. Of all the shitty things banks do, Refusing service to someone who objectively toxifies discourse isn't that bad.
Banks refuse service for much, much, MUCH less, the only difference is pillowpants has more money so they had more of an interest in keeping him. I'm sure he won't have any difficulty finding another -
2022-02-15 at 4:29 PM UTCMaybe he should resort to hiding his money in his pillows.
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2022-02-15 at 5:29 PM UTC
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2022-02-15 at 5:38 PM UTCClinton committed espionage
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2022-02-15 at 6:28 PM UTC
Originally posted by stl1 "WE'VE GOT HIM NOW!"
INSIDER
Trump's accountants quit — in the midst of preparing his and Melania's taxes — after questioning 'discrepancies'
litaliano@insider.com (Laura Italiano)
Accountants stopped preparing Donald and Melania Trump's taxes after questioning "discrepancies."
Mazars USA told the Trump Organization it had halted its relationship with him, court papers say.
The company is distancing itself from key evidence in a criminal probe into alleged financial fraud.
Donald Trump's longtime accountants have suddenly severed all ties with the former president and his business — quitting while in the midst of preparing his and Melania Trump's tax returns.
In a letter made public Monday by New York's attorney general, Letitia James, the accounting firm, Mazars USA, told the Trump Organization's top corporate lawyer it had stepped away from Trump and his business because of questions about the reliability of key company financial statements.
News of Mazars USA's stunning move surfaced in papers filed Monday by James as part of New York prosecutors' inquiry into possible banking, insurance, and tax fraud on the part of Trump and his business.
Since at least 2004, Mazars has prepared annual financial statements — so-called Statements of Financial Condition — containing detailed estimates of Trump's net worth.
Trump has used these statements to secure hundreds of millions of dollars in loans and insurance over the years.
In court documents filed over the past two years, James has alleged that Trump exaggerated his worth when trying to impress bankers and downplayed his worth when seeking lower taxes.
"Last week, after review of [the AG office's] filings, Donald J. Trump's and the Trump Organization's former accounting firm informed the Trump Organization that the Statements of Financial Condition from 2011 through 2020 should no longer be relied upon," James wrote in papers filed Monday.
James filed the papers in Manhattan Supreme Court, as part of a civil lawsuit seeking to compel Trump, his daughter Ivanka, and his son Donald Jr., to comply with subpoenas from her office requiring their documents and testimony.
As part of her filing, James included a copy of the letter Mazars sent to Alan Garten, the chief legal officer of the Trump Organization.
In the letter, Mazars' top attorney, William J. Kelly, tells Garten that after speaking with the attorney general's office, and after their own investigation, they realized the accountant firm could no longer represent the former president or his business.
"The Statements of Financial Condition for Donald J. Trump for the years ending June 30, 2011 - June 30, 2020 should no longer be relied upon," the letter said.
"We have come to this conclusion based, in part, upon the filings made by the New York Attorney General on January 18, 2022, our own investigation, and information received from internal and external sources," the letter continued.
"While we have not concluded that the various financial statements, as a whole, contain material discrepancies, based upon the totality of the circumstances, we believe our advice to you to no longer rely upon those financial statements is appropriate."
Mazars' lawyer went on to say that continuing to do accounting work for the Trump Organization would be "a non-waivable conflict of interest" — suggesting Mazars is weighing its own potential criminal liability.
"As a result, we are not able to provide any new work product to the Trump Organization," the letter continued, adding that the Trumps' tax returns were among the "limited number" that still remained to be filed.
Garten did not immediately respond to a request for comment; neither did attorneys for Trump and Mazars.
Who does the tax return, Trump or his accountants? -
2022-02-15 at 6:30 PM UTC
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2022-02-15 at 6:32 PM UTCActually, it is both.
The accountants use the figures supplied by Trump. -
2022-02-15 at 6:32 PM UTC
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2022-02-15 at 6:59 PM UTCHow about supplying two conflicting figures?
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2022-02-15 at 6:59 PM UTC
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2022-02-15 at 7:13 PM UTCWe'll see, wont we?
New grand jury seated as Trump criminal probe continues
New York prosecutors conducting a criminal investigation into former President Donald Trump’s business dealings have convened a new grand jury to hear evidence as the previous panel’s term was set to run out
By MICHAEL R. SISAK Associated Press
November 4, 2021, 5:44 PM
NEW YORK -- New York prosecutors investigating former President Donald Trump’s business dealings have convened a new grand jury to hear evidence in the probe as the previous panel’s term was set to run out, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press Thursday.
The development comes as the Manhattan district attorney’s office is weighing whether to seek more indictments in a case that has already resulted in tax fraud charges against Trump’s company, the Trump Organization, and its longtime CFO Allen Weisselberg.
Trump himself remains under investigation after District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. led a multiyear fight to get access to the Republican’s tax records.
The person was not authorized to speak publicly and did so on condition of anonymity. The news of the new grand jury was first reported by The Washington Post.
The Manhattan DA’s office declined comment. A message seeking comment was left with a Trump Organization lawyer.
Investigators working for Vance and New York Attorney General Letitia James have spent more than two years looking at whether the Trump Organization misled banks or tax officials about the value of the company's assets, inflating them to gain favorable loan terms or minimizing them to reap tax savings.
As part of a continuing civil investigation, James’ office issued subpoenas to local governments in November 2019 for records pertaining to Trump’s estate north of Manhattan, Seven Springs, and a tax benefit Trump received for placing land into a conservation trust. Vance issued subpoenas about a year ago seeking many of the same records.
James’ office has also been looking at similar issues relating to a Trump office building in New York City, a hotel in Chicago and a golf course near Los Angeles. Her office also won a series of court rulings forcing Trump’s company and a law firm it hired to turn over troves of records.
The New York Times reported last month that Westchester District Attorney Mimi Rocah had opened an investigation into whether the Trump Organization misled officials to cut taxes for a golf course.
In the criminal case, Weisselberg has pleaded not guilty to charges he collected more than $1.7 million in off-the-books compensation, including apartment rent, car payments and school tuition. Trump’s company was also charged in the case, which prosecutors have described as a “sweeping and audacious” tax fraud scheme.
Prosecutors have also been weighing whether to seek charges against the company’s chief operating officer Matthew Calamari Sr.
According to the indictment, from 2005 through this year, the Trump Organization and Weisselberg, 74, cheated tax authorities by conspiring to pay senior executives off the books by way of lucrative fringe benefits and other means. Weisselberg alone was accused of defrauding the federal, state and city governments out of more than $900,000 in unpaid taxes and undeserved tax refunds.
Trump himself was not charged with any wrongdoing, but prosecutors noted he signed some of the checks at the center of the case.
In recent months, a pair of Trump Organization executives testified before the grand jury hearing evidence in the Manhattan case. Under New York law, grand jury witnesses are granted immunity and cannot be charged for conduct they testify about.
One of the Trump executives granted immunity to testify before the grand jury is the company’s director of security, Matthew Calamari Jr., the son of Matthew Calamari Sr. The other, senior vice president and controller, Jeffrey McConney, was first subpoenaed to testify in the spring and appeared before the panel again in September.
At a September hearing, Weisselberg lawyer Bryan Scarlatos told a judge he had “strong reason to believe” more indictments were coming in the case.
The grand jury that returned the Weisselberg and Trump Organization indictments was empaneled in the spring for a six-month term. The new grand jury will also meet for six months, overlapping the start of Alvin Bragg’s tenure as district attorney.
Bragg, a Democrat, won Tuesday’s election and will take over in January for Vance, who is retiring.
As a top deputy to New York’s attorney general in 2018, Bragg helped oversee a lawsuit that led to the closure of Trump’s charitable foundation over allegations that he used the nonprofit to further his political and business interests.
In an interview prior to his election, Bragg told The Associated Press his prior experience handling mortgage fraud, money laundering and other white-collar investigations made him feel “very equipped to follow the facts wherever they go” in the Trump criminal probe.
“I remember the moment sitting around the table with the attorney general deciding to file the case and the ultimate question was, ‘is this a matter that we would file if it were someone else,’” Bragg said.
“And we arrived with the answer that yes, this was the kind of conduct that was worthy of an attorney general action. It’s that same philosophy and approach that I’ll take to the D.A.’s office," he said.
