The Trump Organization and its former leadership have been thrust into the spotlight amid a series of intensive criminal investigations and legal proceedings initiated by federal, state, and local authorities. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has played a pivotal role as these developments have rolled out. The department has spearheaded several high-profile cases focused on, to varying degrees, Donald Trump, his family members, and their business ventures.
DOJ Action Against Donald Trump
In recent months, calls have intensified for the DOJ to extend its investigations beyond individuals to encompass the Trump Organization’s expansive operations in major cities such as Washington D.C., Chicago, and New York City. Meanwhile, Donald Trump and his legal team have repeatedly accused the DOJ of bias and political motives in their pursuit of charges against him. Trump’s narrative of a “weaponized” DOJ under President Biden gained momentum. The former President frequently rails against perceived favoritism toward Biden’s family — particularly President Biden’s son, Hunter Biden.
Recent developments, including multiple guilty verdicts against Hunter Biden just last week, have undermined Trump’s claims of a politically motivated DOJ. This narrative likely serves as more of a distraction from the recent 34 guilty verdicts Trump faced in his NYC hush money trial.
Overview of Cases Where the DOJ Is Involved
The DOJ has actively pursued legal action against Donald Trump through two significant federal criminal cases:
- August 2023: Trump was indicted on charges related to his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. These charges, including conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and obstruction of an official proceeding, were a result of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into Trump’s actions during the post-election period. Despite claims of presidential immunity, Trump’s trial has been postponed pending appeal.
- June 2023: The DOJ indicted Trump on charges involving mishandling classified documents post-presidency. This case, also led by Special Counsel Jack Smith, underscores the DOJ’s commitment to pursuing national security breaches regardless of the individuals involved.
In contrast to its direct involvement in federal prosecutions, the DOJ did not lead separate state-level cases against Trump and his organization in New York. The investigation fell under the jurisdiction of AG Letitia James. The Manhattan District Attorney’s office independently secured convictions in a criminal tax fraud case against two Trump Organization companies.
Similarly, the New York Attorney General pursued a $250 million civil fraud lawsuit alleging misrepresentation of asset valuations by Trump, his children, and their company. These state-level proceedings delineate the jurisdictional boundaries and distinct legal actions taken by state authorities, underscoring the DOJ’s focused approach to federal-level investigations led by Special Counsel.
At this point we’ve all heard of Special Counsel Bob Mueller, and, more recently, Special Counsel Jack White. Special Counsels are often appointed by the DOJ to put together independent reports of matters relevant to an ongoing investigation. Special Counsels do not report directly to the DOJ, and are often appointed to minimize accusations of bias or meddling on the DOJ’s part.
Overview of Trump Organization Cases Where the DOJ Is Not Involved
While the DOJ has focused on prosecuting Trump individually, it has not directly pursued legal actions against the Trump Organization itself. State-level cases in New York, led by AG Letitia James and the Manhattan DA’s office, have resulted in convictions for criminal tax fraud and civil fraud, respectively. These cases highlight the existing jurisdictional boundaries between federal and state authorities in investigating Trump’s business practices. One outflow from these boundaries is the role a Special Counsel plays in ensuring transparency and neutrality when the DOJ does get involved.
Potential Future DOJ Involvement in Trump Organization Investigations
Despite the DOJ’s current focus on Trump individually, pressure is mounting for federal agencies to investigate the Trump Organization’s financial practices, particularly regarding unpaid debts and financial disclosures. To date, the DOJ has not been involved in these investigations – for example, verdicts in Manhattan were brought and overseen by New York AG Letitia James.
Allegations of Financial Misconduct
Allegations of financial misconduct, such as misleading financial statements and potential tax violations, have raised concerns about legal compliance and public trust. These issues could prompt future DOJ involvement if substantiated by ongoing investigations.
The alleged misconduct of the Trump Organization, particularly concerning accusations regarding Donald Trump’s financial disclosures, has drawn the DOJ’s attention. While the DOJ has lately been more aggressive in its pursuit of criminal charges against Trump himself—such as those related to election interference and mishandling classified documents—the DOJ has yet to initiate legal actions directly targeting his organization.
The DOJ recently received some criticism on this topic. Specifically, criticism of the fact that it took the DOJ nearly a year to open an investigation into the matter of Trump’s involvement in January 6, despite prompting from Congress to do so. When the DOJ did get involved, the FBI followed suit – opening its own investigation into the matter in April 2022.
Advocacy for Increased DOJ Involvement
Several advocacy groups are actively lobbying for more DOJ involvement in the matter. One example is a complaint filed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) based on troubling claims that Trump falsely reported owing over $50 million to his Chicago business on official financial disclosure forms. These allegations suggest potential violations involving tax avoidance or debt concealment. Each of these carry significant legal implications if substantiated.
Financial disclosures are crucial for transparency – among other important factors, transparency in this area ensures that high-ranking officials operate without conflicts of interest. CREW’s assertion that Trump’s alleged misrepresentations could constitute criminal violations highlights the gravity of the situation. Noah Bookbinder, CREW’s President, has asserted that all individuals, regardless of their status, should be subject to scrutiny under the law.
Compliance Failures at the Trump Organization
Following the initial verdict in the case overseen by New York AG Letitia James, Donald Trump and the Trump Organization were held liable for a substantial fine of $354 million. In 2022, the Trump Organization was compelled to engage a third-party monitor after being accused of obstructing a grand jury investigation into its accounting and compliance practices.
Critical Compliance Failures
The case highlighted several critical compliance failures within the Trump Organization:
- Misrepresentation of Financial Information: The Trump Organization allegedly manipulated financial statements to secure favorable loan and insurance terms. This situation was first brought to light, very comprehensively, by an NYT investigation into Trump’s tax filings in New York State over the last several decades.
- Inadequate Internal Controls: Weaknesses in the company’s internal control mechanisms allowed a long-standing tax fraud scheme to persist unchecked.
- Involvement of Top Executives: The criminal convictions implicated high-ranking Trump Organization executives, including the CFO, in fraudulent activities.
DOJ’s Response to the Trump Organization Verdict
Reminder: the DOJ was not directly involved in the New York prosecution that resulted in convictions against the Trump Organization,. THat said, the Department has moved to hold Trump and his associates accountable through several federal indictments. It seems that the DOJ is showing readiness to pursue corporate misconduct at the highest levels — even when a former president is involved.
Compliance failures at the Trump Organization are increasingly pertinent to potential future DOJ actions against the company. The DOJ has shown growing interest in prosecuting individual executives and organizations for their roles in cases of fraud, waste, and abuse, reflecting heightened scrutiny on corporate accountability.
DOJ’s Compliance Program Assessment Framework
The June 2020 update to the Evaluation of Corporate Compliance Programs (ECCP) published a framework. In this framework, the organization introduced three core questions that guide the DOJ’s assessment of a corporation’s compliance program:
- Is the Corporation’s Compliance Program Well-Designed?
- Is the Program Adequately Resourced and Empowered to Function Effectively?
- Does the Corporation’s Compliance Program Work in Practice?
Guidelines like these emphasize the importance of having robust, well-designed, and effectively implemented compliance programs.
DOJ Compliance Standards: Well-Designed Compliance Programs
The DOJ’s focus on a well-designed compliance program involves several key elements:
- Risk Assessment: The Trump Organization needs to regularly conduct risk assessments to identify compliance risks. Historical issues like financial misrepresentation and tax fraud highlight the need for thorough risk management.
- Policies and Procedures: Clear, effective policies must address identified risks. The Trump Organization’s past manipulation of financial statements underscores the necessity for transparent, up-to-date policies and procedures.
- Training and Communications: Regular training on compliance policies is essential. The Trump Organization must ensure that employees understand their responsibilities and feel comfortable reporting potential violations. Past compliance failures suggest a need for better communication and training.
- Confidential Reporting and Investigation: Establishing confidential reporting mechanisms and a strong investigation process is crucial. Given past legal issues, the Trump Organization needs systems to promptly and thoroughly address misconduct.
- Third-Party Management: Due diligence for third parties, including suppliers and partners, is vital to ensure compliance with laws and standards. This point has been critical in predicting potential future legal issues, given the Trump Organization’s broad spectrum of operations.
- Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A): During M&A activities, thorough compliance due diligence is necessary to identify and address potential risks.
Adequate Resources and Empowerment
An effective compliance program requires sufficient resources and support from senior management:
- Commitment by Leadership: The Trump Organization’s leadership must show a clear commitment to compliance, providing necessary resources and setting a strong ethical tone at the top. High-ranking executives’ past misconduct highlights the need for this commitment.
- Autonomy and Resources: The compliance function should have the autonomy and resources needed to operate effectively. Previous legal challenges indicate a need for stronger independence and resources for the compliance team.
- Compensation and Consequences: Aligning compensation and incentive structures with compliance goals is crucial. Employees who have been rewarded for ethical behavior and adherence to standards perform better in this area. This is not the first time one of Trump’s companies has been accused of improperly keeping the books.
Effectiveness in Practice
A compliance program must work in practice, ensuring continuous improvement and robust investigation of misconduct:
- Continuous Improvement and Testing: The Trump Organization should regularly review and update its compliance program, with periodic testing to identify weaknesses and areas for improvement. This is vital for adapting to new legal requirements and mitigating future risks.
- Investigation of Misconduct: Robust procedures for investigating and addressing misconduct are necessary. Ensuring thorough, impartial, and timely investigations can prevent issues similar to past legal troubles.
- Analysis and Remediation: Identifying the root causes of misconduct and taking appropriate remedial actions is crucial. This may involve revising policies, enhancing training programs, or disciplining individuals involved. The Trump Organization needs to analyze past issues and implement effective remedies.
Potential Future Involvement of the DOJ
Given the DOJ’s updated compliance expectations, their potential future involvement with the Trump Organization could involve:
- Comprehensive Assessments: We evaluated the Trump Organization’s known compliance program based on the ECCP’s suggested compliance framework.
- Enhanced Oversight: Increased scrutiny and oversight may be required by the DOJ. Requirements like this would help ensure the Trump Organization adheres to updated compliance standards going forward.
- Proactive Measures: In the process of this case, the Trump Organization will be pushed to adopt proactive risk assessment efforts. This includes measures such as regular updates to compliance programs, and training employees on protocols and standards.
Lessons Learned from the Trump Organization Case
The legal proceedings involving the Trump Organization have yielded several critical lessons for corporations:
- Transparency and Integrity: Corporations must prioritize transparency and integrity in financial reporting avoiding misrepresentation. The Trump Organization’s manipulation of financial statements for favorable outcomes in loans and insurance underscores the consequences of deceptive practices.
- Internal Controls: Strong internal controls and robust compliance mechanisms are indispensable in detecting and preventing fraud within organizations. The lack of adequate controls within the Trump Organization allowed a prolonged tax fraud scheme to thrive unchecked. This all ultimately ended with significant financial penalties.
- Accountability: Accountability must extend to top executives implicated in corporate misconduct, not just lower-level employees. High-ranking Trump Organization executives in fraudulent activities highlights the need for stringent oversight and accountability measures at all levels.
- Executive Responsibility: Misconduct by top executives can tarnish an organization’s reputation and credibility. Figures like Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump have made efforts to distance themselves and their father from accounting errors. Courts tend to view executives as influential to corporate culture. As such, it’s normal to hold executives accountable for any mishandled financial matters.
Impact on DOJ’s Enforcement Strategies
The Trump Organization case is poised to influence the DOJ’s approach to enforcing corporate accountability and legal standards:
- Aggressive Pursuit: Should the DOJ get involved in prosecuting Trump Organization companies and individuals may signal a heightened focus on aggressively pursuing corporate crime. This case is a win for holding organizations accountable for fraud and misconduct.
- Enhanced Standards: Public and legal scrutiny faced by the Trump Organization showcases the importance of robust internal controls and accurate financial disclosures. These help maintain both legal compliance and also public trust.
- Personal Accountability: There may be an increased emphasis on holding individuals, including executives, personally accountable for corporate wrongdoing. The DOJ’s actions against Trump and his associates signal a shift towards ensuring accountability at all organizational levels. This reinforces the notion that no one is above the law.
Summary and Conclusion
The former president of the United States is, at the very least, guilty on 34 counts. It has been a generation or two since the last time a former president faced this level of legal risk. The DOJ’s eventual pursuit of its high-profile case against Trump and his organization shows its commitment to tackling corporate fraud and misconduct. The Department has not acted overly hastily, and is ready to hold even prominent and influential individuals accountable.