During a recent court hearing, Deborah Tarasoff, an employee in the accounting department of the Trump Organization, provided valuable insights into the check-writing process within the company. Tarasoff's testimony shed light on the reimbursement checks totaling $420,000 that were sent to former attorney Michael Cohen in 2017.
According to Tarasoff, any invoice exceeding $10,000 post-2015 required approval from Donald Trump or one of his sons. She detailed the meticulous process of creating the 12 checks for $35,000 each, which were signed by Trump himself. Tarasoff explained that if Trump did not approve a payment, he would mark the check as 'void.'
Her testimony revealed that Trump's signature on the checks was easily recognizable as he used a black Sharpie for signing. Tarasoff emphasized that she had no decision-making authority and simply followed instructions, including obtaining approvals, entering invoices into the system, preparing the checks, and ensuring they were signed.
Under cross-examination, Tarasoff admitted that she was not privy to the discussions between Trump and the former CFO of the Trump Organization, Allen Weisselberg, regarding the payments.
The details provided by Tarasoff offer a glimpse into the internal financial procedures of the Trump Organization and the level of oversight exercised by Trump and his family members. The testimony highlights the meticulous nature of the check-writing process and the direct involvement of Trump in approving significant payments.
