NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg pleaded not guilty to tax crime charges -- including 2nd-degree larceny as part of a scheme to dodge $2 million in taxes -- on Thursday in a lower Manhattan courtroom after he surrendered to authorities earlier in the day, ahead of his court appearance on the first criminal indictment in a two-year investigation into business practices at Donald Trump's company. (READ THE ENTIRE INDICTMENT BELOW)
Weisselberg was spotted in the court building in handcuffs.
Weisselberg was photographed walking into the the complex that houses criminal courts and the Manhattan district attorney's office at around 6:20 a.m. with his lawyer.
At the time, Weisselberg's attorneys, Mary Mulligan and Bryan Skarlatos, said in a statement that he “intends to plead not guilty and he will fight these charges in court.”
A spokesperson for the Trump Organization released a statement following his surrender: “Allen Weisselberg is a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather who has worked at the Trump Organization for 48 years. He is now being used by the Manhattan District Attorney as a pawn in a scorched earth attempt to harm the former President. The District Attorney is bringing a criminal prosecution involving employee benefits that neither the IRS nor any other District Attorney would ever think of bringing. This is not justice; this is politics.”
New York prosecutors are expected to announce the first criminal indictment Thursday in a two-year investigation into Trump's business practices, accusing his namesake company and Weisselberg of tax crimes related to fringe benefits for employees.
Manhattan DA Cy Vance, who leaves office at the end of the year, has been conducting a wide-ranging investigation into a variety of matters involving Trump and the Trump Organization.
His office has looked into hush-money payments paid to women on Trump’s behalf and truthfulness in the company's property valuations and tax assessments, among other matters.
Vance fought a long battle to get Trump’s tax records and has been subpoenaing documents and interviewing company executives and other Trump insiders.
Although Trump isn’t expected to be charged Thursday, allegations against the company bearing his name raise questions about his knowledge of — or involvement in — business that practices prosecutors suspect were illegal.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.