Trevor Noah has joked about Donald Trump avoiding "going to prison" in response to the former president's company being convicted of tax fraud.
A Manhattan jury on Tuesday found the Trump Organization guilty on all 17 counts related to tax fraud, conspiracy and falsifying business records.
Trump himself did not face any charges in the case, although prosecutors alleged that he "knew exactly what was going on" and had taken part in actions that were "explicitly sanctioning tax fraud," according to the Associated Press.
The case focused on the organization's scheme to defraud tax authorities by helping top executives avoid paying taxes on compensation that included perks like luxury cars and apartments.
After the verdict was delivered, Noah raised a few laughs when he discussed the case during the latest episode of The Daily Show.
"In some major legal news, the Trump Organization has been found guilty of 17 counts of tax fraud and other financial crimes," he said, to raucous cheers from the studio audience.
"And you know what that means—Donald Trump is going to prison," Noah exclaimed, prompting even louder cheers and applause.
However, Noah revealed after an extended pause that he hadn't completed his sentence, adding that Trump would be heading to prison "to visit all the lower-ranking people who did this without his knowledge or his permission.
"Because we all know that's how that works in the world, right? All the successes in Trump's organization, they're due to the genius of Donald Trump. All the crimes, he had no idea."
Impersonating Trump, comedian Noah went on: "He's like, 'That's right, folks. I have zero control over the things I run, which is why you should vote for me to run the country, so I can run it like one of my companies, which I don't even run.'"
Trump has vowed to appeal the Trump Organization's tax fraud conviction, while lamenting that New York City has become "a hard place to be 'Trump.'"
In a statement titled "Manhattan Witch Hunt!" and posted to Truth Social a short time later, the real estate mogul said that he was "disappointed" by the verdict while maintaining that the organization was the victim of a "political witch hunt."
"Disappointed with the verdict in Manhattan, but will appeal," Trump said. "This case was about Allen Weisselberg committing tax fraud on his personal tax returns, etc., with he and every witness repeatedly testifying that President Trump and the Trump Family knew nothing about his actions, which he admits were done solely for his own benefit, and with no benefit to the two companies."
"This case is unprecedented and involved no monetary gain to these two Corporations," he said. "It is a continuation of the Greatest Political Witch Hunt in the History of our Country. New York City is a hard place to be 'Trump,' as businesses and people flee our once Great City!"
Former Trump Organization Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg, who in August pleaded guilty to 15 counts related to conspiring with the company to avoid paying his personal taxes, was a key witness during the trial. Weisselberg reportedly pleaded guilty in exchange for a five-month jail sentence. Trump argued that the organization "knew nothing" about Weisselberg's crimes.
The organization will reportedly face a fine of up to $1.6 million, with a sentencing hearing set for January 13, 2023.
Nicholas Gravante, Weisselberg's attorney, told Newsweek on Tuesday that the jury's verdict "has no effect on Mr. Weisselberg's legal situation," adding that his client's "only obligation relating to the trial was that he testify truthfully, which clearly he did."
Dave Aronberg, state attorney for Palm Beach County, Florida, previously told Newsweek that the verdict would be little more than an "embarrassment" for the Trump Organization without "any lasting repercussions" unless the IRS opens a criminal investigation.
"The IRS has jurisdiction and can make things much more difficult for the former president and his company," Aronberg said.
New York Attorney General Letitia James separately filed a $250 million civil suit against Trump in September, accusing him of tax fraud and misrepresentation of company assets.
"Today's guilty verdict against the Trump Organization shows that we will hold individuals and organizations accountable when they violate our laws to line their pockets," she tweeted after the trial concluded.
Newsweek has reached out to the Trump Organization for comment.
About the writer
Ryan Smith is a Newsweek Senior Pop Culture and Entertainment Reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on ... Read more
