David Klepper Associated Press Published 4:35 p.m. UTC Aug 23, 2018 Albany, N.Y. – Michael Cohen personally called tax officials in New York on the same day he received a subpoena from state investigators looking into the Trump Foundation. A state official confirmed the call from the former personal attorney and “fixer” for President Donald Trump, but would not divulge the details of the exchange, which came Wednesday just hours after Cohen received the subpoena. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to discuss the case publicly. The Associated Press first reported the existence of the subpoena on Wednesday. It was issued as part of the state’s ongoing investigation into Trump and the Trump Foundation to determine whether the Republican commander in chief or his charity broke state law or misstated their tax liabilities. Cohen pleaded guilty in Manhattan federal court Tuesday to campaign-finance violations and … [Read more...] about Source: Cohen called tax officials soon after subpoena
New york tax attorney
Trump vows not to settle foundation suit
Associated Press Updated 4:33 p.m. UTC Jun 14, 2018 New York – A lawsuit filed by New York’s attorney general Thursday said President Donald Trump used his charitable foundation to settle personal business disputes and bolster his political image with donations directed by his staff. The Donald J. Trump Foundation “was little more than a checkbook for payments from Mr. Trump or his businesses to nonprofits, regardless of their purpose or legality,” Democratic Attorney General Barbara Underwood said as she sued to dissolve the foundation and seek $2.8 million in restitution. The lawsuit says the foundation illegally helped support the Republican’s campaign by raising money at a nationally televised fundraiser in January 2016, then allowing campaign staffers to dictate how the money was spent in grants. In a couple of tweets, Trump called the case “ridiculous” and said he would not settle the lawsuit. Trump made a similar claim that he … [Read more...] about Trump vows not to settle foundation suit
New York attorney general sues Trump Foundation
Associated Press Updated 3:39 p.m. UTC Jun 14, 2018 New York – President Donald Trump’s charitable foundation served as a personal piggy bank for his businesses, legal bills and presidential campaign, New York’s attorney general said Wednesday as she sued the charity, Trump and three of his children. The Donald J. Trump Foundation “was little more than a checkbook for payments from Mr. Trump or his businesses to nonprofits, regardless of their purpose or legality,” Democratic Attorney General Barbara Underwood said as she sued to dissolve the foundation and seek $2.8 million in restitution. The lawsuit says the foundation illegally helped support the Republican’s campaign by raising money at a nationally televised fundraiser in January 2016, then allowing campaign staffers to dictate how the money was spent in grants. Foundation attorney Sheri Dillon and a Trump Organization spokeswoman didn’t immediately respond to messages seeking … [Read more...] about New York attorney general sues Trump Foundation
New charges filed against Manafort in Russia probe
Chad Day and Eric Tucker Associated Press Published 2:36 p.m. UTC Jun 9, 2018 Washington – Special counsel Robert Mueller has brought new obstruction charges against President Donald Trump’s campaign chairman and a longtime associate who prosecutors have said has ties to Russian intelligence. The indictment was unsealed Friday against Paul Manafort and Konstantin Kilimnik just days after prosecutors accused the two men of attempting to tamper with witnesses as Manafort awaits trial on charges related to his foreign lobbying work. The latest charges increase Manafort’s legal jeopardy if he continues an aggressive battle with prosecutors, and could be an effort by Mueller to induce a guilty plea and secure the testimony of a critical campaign adviser to Trump. They also come as Trump and his attorney, Rudy Giuliani, have heaped public criticism on the Mueller investigation in an attempt to undermine it. The charges do not relate to Manafort’s work on the … [Read more...] about New charges filed against Manafort in Russia probe
Baltimore takes up taxes on Airbnb bookings
Accommodations booked in Baltimore through Airbnb could be subject to the city's 9.5 percent hotel tax, as local lawmakers join a wider push aimed at bringing the short-term rental website into the regulatory fold.The bill, put forward by Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake's administration this month, is designed to update city laws to capture the growing activity produced by the booking platform, which links property owners offering homes or rooms for rent on a short-term basis to potential customers.Such service is comparable to a hotel or bed and breakfast and should be taxed that way, Nicholas Blendy, an assistant deputy mayor, said at a City Council committee hearing on Tuesday."Short-term rentals are very consistent with things we've always regulated locally," Blendy said. "Fundamentally this is just a new technology that requires a definitional change in order to put it on the same playing field as all of these other entities that already are regulated and taxed."The measure has the … [Read more...] about Baltimore takes up taxes on Airbnb bookings