Prosecutor concludes probe into whether Donald Trump or his company deceived authorities to lower taxes on NYC suburban properties.
Westchester County District Attorney Mimi Rocah issued a formal statement declaring her decision following an impartial investigation, free from political bias, party affiliation, and personal or political beliefs. The investigation did not lead to any charges against former President Donald Trump or his company, the Trump Organization.
Silence from Donald Trump Organization
Rocah, a Democrat, initiated the investigation in 2021 to examine whether Trump or the Trump Organization provided misleading valuations to officials in an attempt to reduce the tax liability on Trump National Golf Club in Briarcliff Manor, located approximately 29 miles north of midtown Manhattan.
As part of the investigation, Rocah’s office issued subpoenas for records from the golf course and the town of Ossining, responsible for managing the course’s taxes.
No comment was provided by the Trump Organization in response to the announcement.
Trump, a prominent candidate for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, has consistently denounced investigations into his business practices as politically motivated.
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Membership Fees Manipulation
The company has previously characterized Rocah’s probe as politically driven and misguided.
Rocah’s announcement followed Trump’s recent arraignment in federal court in Miami on charges related to mishandling classified documents and obstructing investigators.
Trump is also facing charges in Manhattan in connection with an alleged scheme to conceal allegations of extramarital affairs during his first presidential campaign.
In an interview, Rocah validated her choice to conclude the case, confirming a report from the media outlet Insider.
Similar to many property owners, the Trump Organization has actively contested to minimize its tax obligations, engaging in prolonged disputes with Ossining to obtain lower tax assessments for the Briarcliff Manor golf course.
Initially, the company valued the golf club at around $1.4 million for tax purposes, later revising the estimate to $6.5 million. However, the town consistently valued the property at over $15 million.
In 2021, a compromise was reached through a court ruling that reduced the assessment to $9.5 million for that year, resulting in a 30% reduction in assessments for preceding years. This led to the company receiving refunds of approximately $875,000 for overpaid back taxes.
Simultaneously, Trump and his company face accusations of inflating asset values to impress lenders and business partners.
New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit against Trump and the Trump Organization, alleging they provided false information about Trump’s net worth and the value of assets, including hotels and golf courses, to banks and others.
One specific claim in the ongoing case, scheduled for trial in October, is that the Trump Organization artificially increased the value of the Briarcliff Manor golf club by millions of dollars by including fees for memberships that were never sold or paid.
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