Trump Organization and its CFO charged with tax crimes

Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Trump Organization and Trump Payroll Corporation also pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors said that Weisselberg attempted to conceal his participation in the scheme with the knowledge of the company. 

More on the charges: The indictment charges the Trump Organization, Trump Payroll Corporation and Weisselberg. Prosecutors in court described a 15-year tax scheme and said the charges include 15 felony counts, including a scheme to defraud, conspiracy, grand larceny and falsifying business records. 

The indictment charges the Trump Organization, Trump Payroll Corporation the company's chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg.

Prosecutors in court described a 15-year tax scheme and said the charges include 15 felony counts, including a scheme to defraud, conspiracy, grand larceny and falsifying business records. 

Prosecutors allege Weisselberg evaded taxes on $1.7 million of income.

Prosecutors say they have digital drives with grand jury testimony, bookkeeping records, tax records, statements of potential witnesses.

Watch here:

The arraignment for the Trump Organization and the company's chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg is now underway in a Manhattan state court.

Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg arrived to court with hands cuffed behind his back Thursday afternoon in anticipation of his court appearance.

Once inside, a court officer removed his handcuffs.

Earlier, Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance and New York Attorney General Letitia James entered the courtroom.

Weisselberg’s lawyers Bryan Skarlatos and Mary Mulligan also are present.

Alan Futerfas and another lawyer earlier arrived, for the Trump Organization. 

Mark Pomerantz, Carey Dunne, Christopher Conroy and at least four other prosecutors arrived in the courtroom earlier Thursday.

Weisselberg surrendered to the Manhattan district attorney’s office this morning ahead of expected criminal charges against him and the company in connection with alleged tax crimes, his attorney told CNN. 

Weisselberg's attorneys said he plans to plead not guilty and "will fight these charges in court."

Watch the moment:

Trump Organization attorneys Alan Futerfas and another lawyer just arrived for the arraignment, followed by lawyers for the company's chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg.

Indictments are expected to be unsealed shortly, two sources familiar with the matter tell CNN. 

Weisselberg surrendered to the Manhattan district attorney’s office this morning ahead of expected criminal charges against him and the company in connection with alleged tax crimes, his attorney told CNN. 

Prosecutors from the Manhattan DA’s office – including Mark Pomerantz, Carey Dunne, Christopher Conroy and at least four other prosecutors – just arrived in the courtroom for the arraignment of the Trump Organization and the company's Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg.

Indictments charging the Trump Organization and its chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, are expected to be unsealed around 2 p.m. ET, two sources familiar with the matter tell CNN. 

Weisselberg surrendered to the Manhattan district attorney’s office this morning ahead of expected criminal charges against him and the company in connection with alleged tax crimes, his attorney tells CNN. 

Weisselberg is set to be arraigned later Thursday at a lower Manhattan courthouse.

Though former President Trump faced multiple federal and state prosecutorial inquiries during his administration, the district attorney's indictment would be the first to charge his namesake company, the Trump Organization, for conduct that occurred when he led it.  

Trump himself is not expected to be charged, his attorney has said. 

Read more about the investigation here.

The White House is pointing to President Biden's tax proposals that would raise rates on high earners when asked Thursday about the pending indictment of Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg.

Without commenting on the specific case, White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden believes wealthy Americans should pay more.

"He truly believes, as we look at his economic policies, everyone should pay their fair share, especially the wealthiest among us," she told reporters aboard Air Force One.

She said she wasn't commenting specifically on the Trump Organization case.

Mary Mulligan, the attorney for Trump Organization Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg, issued a statement saying her client "will fight these charges in court.”

"Mr. Weisselberg intends to plead not guilty and he will fight these charges in court,” the full statement read.

Weisselberg surrendered to the Manhattan district attorney's office Thursday morning ahead of expected criminal charges against him and the company in connection with alleged tax crimes.

A Manhattan grand jury filed the indictments Wednesday, and they are set to be unsealed Thursday around 2 p.m. ET, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The precise type or number of charges they are expected to face was not immediately clear.