Trump Organization’s accounting firm Mazars says 10 years of
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“We have come to this conclusion based, in part, upon the filings made by the New York Attorney General on January 18, 2022, our own investigation, and information received from internal and external sources,” Mazars wrote in a letter to the Trump Organization chief legal officer, advising them to no longer rely on financial statements ending June 2011 through June 2020.
“While we have not concluded that the various financial statements, as a whole, contain material discrepancies, based upon the totality of the circumstances, we believe our advice to you to no longer rely upon those financial statements is appropriate.”
The company also advised the Trump Organization to inform any recipients of the statements, such as lenders or insurers, to not rely on the statements.
Monday, Mazars said it would no longer act as Trump’s accountant, citing a “non-waivable conflict of interest.” The accounting firm said the only work not completed was the filing of Trump and Melania Trump’s tax returns. It says they are still seeking information about an apartment for Matthew Calamari Jr., the company’s head of security, which they have sought for months but have not received. Trump’s main accountant, Donald Bender, testified before the grand jury investigating the Trump Organization last year, sources told CNN.
“While we are disappointed that Mazars has chosen to part ways, their February 9, 2022 letter confirms that after conducting a subsequent review of all prior statements of financial condition, Mazars’ work was performed in accordance with all applicable accounting standards and principles and that such statements of financial condition do not contain any material discrepancies,” a Trump Organization spokesperson said Monday. “This confirmation effectively renders the investigations by the DA and AG moot.”
Mazars didn’t respond to CNN’s requests for comment.
Some lawyers say it’s likely Mazars issued the warning since they had previously signed off on the financial statements, and with recent allegations that they are inaccurate, they would want to protect themselves and sound an alarm that they shouldn’t be relied on anymore.
The New York attorney general and Manhattan district attorney’s office have been investigating the accuracy of Trump’s financial statements to determine whether any insurers, lenders or others were misled. Trump has previously said in depositions in civil investigations that he would give his opinion about the values of certain properties and it was “predominantly” Trump Organization’s chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg who decided the final number.
Mazars compiled the statements and included a two-page introduction that stated Trump was responsible for valuations,…
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