Perjury? Trump Signed False Tax Returns At Least 4 Times

Cody Fenwick

June 23, 2018 4:50 am

President Donald Trump signed the Trump Foundation tax returns in four different years when they contained demonstrably false information, according to a new report by Washington Post reporter David Fahrenthold.

As Fahrenthold notes, when you sign a tax return, you pledge that the information contained is accurate to the best of your knowledge under penalty of perjury. Knowingly falsifying a tax return is a felony under federal law. (Many noted that, by contrast, unauthorized border crossing is only a misdemeanor.)

The false information Farenthold reports on, which is confirmed by a recent New York attorney general lawsuit, concerns Trump’s use of his foundation to personally benefit himself, make a political donation, and to help his business. These acts are all barred under the law governing charitable foundations.

Will Trump ever face any consequences for these errors? As Farenthold notes, it’s often hard to bring a case against someone when the only evidence is the false statements themselves. Prosecutors usually like to have other evidence, such as emails documenting an intentional cover-up, to prove that the crime was committed knowingly.

There’s also the little fact that it’s unclear whether a sitting president can be indicted. If the office provides immunity, any such prosecution would have to take place once he’s out of office.

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http://www.nationalmemo.com/perjury-trump-signed-false-tax-returns-at-least-4-times/