New York prosecutors, since September, have opened two inquiries on President Donald Trump’s tax write-offs. These would require Trump to fend off potential charges of fraud in his early days after his presidency. The investigations are being led by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr and the civil investigation is being led by New York Attorney General Letitia James.
The prosecutors are also looking at Trump Organisation’s tax write-off schemes, that also apparently include the president’s eldest daughter Ivanka Trump. Ivanka Trump currently holds the position of a personal advisor to the president.
Trump’s tax returns initially disclosed that he had $26 million in write-offs and that these included fees he paid to consultants, including an apparent $747,000 fee that matched a payment disclosed by Trump's daughter, Ivanka Trump.
Trump was shown to be an executive officer of the Trump companies that made the payment, which indicates that Ivanka is being treated as a consultant employed by the company.
Ivanka Trump has been under scrutiny from state and local authorities before. Alan Garten, general counsel of the Trump Organization, told the New York Times, "Everything was done in strict compliance with applicable law and under the advice of counsel and tax experts. All applicable taxes were paid and no party received any undue benefit."
Trump has previously stated that the investigation is part of “the greatest witch hunt in history.”
