Trump accountant admits former president reported massive losses

Speaking in front of the Manhattan Supreme Court this week, ex-Trump accountant Donald Bender confirmed that the former president had reported considerable losses over roughly a decade.

Bender works for Mazars USA, which kept the books for Trump until February of this year. He confirmed that Trump reportedly a $200 million loss in 2010, a $700 million loss in 2009, and consistent losses through the year 2018, according to the Daily Mail.

The revelation comes after the Supreme Court approved the release of the 45th president's tax returns to a congressional committee, ending a years-long legal fight.

Bender testified as part of an ongoing criminal fraud case against the Trump Organization over an alleged plot by senior company leaders to avoid paying taxes on much of their income.

Former CFO Allen Weisselburg pleaded guilty earlier this year. The company allegedly paid much of the executive's personal expenses and rewarded him with a multitude of perks as part of his compensation.

Bender denied any involvement or knowledge of that plot during his testimony.

"At any time before the year 2021, did you actually know that The Trump Corporation and Donald Trump were paying these personal expenses as part of Allen Weisselberg's compensation and not reporting them to the tax authorities?" a prosecutor asked Bender, prompting a succinct "no, ma'am" from the accountant.

The case in which Bender testified is separate from the civil case against the organization brought by New York Democratic Attorney General Letitia James over its alleged efforts to inflate the value of its major assets. Trump himself remains uncharged in either case.