Donald Trump's former BODYGUARD-turned-his-top executive is being investigated in NYC criminal probe amid claims employees illegally 'received tax-free perks such as apartments and car leases'
New York prosecutors are investigating whether Donald Trump's former bodyguard received tax-free benefits as part of their criminal probe into whether the Trump Organization illegally avoided paying taxes on perks, according to a report Monday.
Matthew Calamari has hired his own attorney as investigators look into whether he received such luxuries as free apartments, subsidized rent or car leases without paying taxes while he was working for the former president, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Calamari, now the Trump Organization COO, and his son Matthew Calamari Jr, the corporate director of security, have not been accused of any wrongdoing.
Prosecutors in recent weeks, however, advised the father and son that they should hire lawyers, The Journal said.
The senior Calamari has lived in an apartment at Trump Park Avenue in the Upper East Side for years and drives a Mercedes leased through the Trump Organization, according to the report.
His son lives in Trump Parc East, the same building where longtime CFO Allen Wessielberg's son Barry lived, according to a deposition statement he made in 2018 during his divorce to ex Jennifer.
Their involvement in the probe is part of a wider investigation into whether the Trump organization overvalued assets - including real estate - in order to get tax and financial benefits.
New York prosecutors are investigating whether Donald Trump's former bodyguard Matthew Calamari received tax-free benefits as part of their criminal probe into whether the Trump Organization illegally avoided paying taxes on perks
Trump is pictured with Calamari (right) and NFL center Nick Mangold at Briarcliff Manor in New York on September 13, 2011
Former President Donald Trump (center) appears during his Apprentice years alongside Matthew Calamari (left) Apprentice judge Carolyn Kepcher (right)
Matthew Calamari swings a golf club at the Eric Trump Foundation's 6th Annual Golf Invitational Benefiting The St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at the ex-president's Bedminster resort in 2012
Receiving such benefits can be a crime, but cases are rarely brought, but it shows that Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr,'s office is looking into whether the Trump Organization provided benefits to more staff beyond Weisselberg.
The former president has denied any wrongdoing and says the investigations by Vance and New York Attorney General Letitia James are further examples of 'witch hunts' by Democrats.
The Calamaris hired Nicholas Gravante Jr., who heads commercial litigation at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, The Journal said. In the past, Gravante has represented Hunter Biden, the president's son, and James Biden, the president's brother.
In 2019, Michael Cohen said in his testimony to the House Oversight Committee that Calamari Sr. could allegedly back claims that Trump had inflated prices of his assets to insurance companies.
He pointed a finger at Weisselberg, Calamari and Ron Lieberman, an executive vice president at the Trump Organization, describing the trio as 'top executives at the Trump Organization.'
Trump hired Calamari in 1981 when he saw him tackle hecklers at the US Open that year.
'I took one guys immediately right down,' Calamari told Bloomberg.
Then he tackled another heckler.
'I ran right at him, I picked him up, I slammed him to the ground, I carried him down.'
At the time Trump was married to first wife Ivana, and they were impressed, the now ex-president told Bloomberg.
'I love the guy,' Calamari said of Trump. 'My thing is, I've always promised I would, knock on wood, never let anything happen to him.'
In the former president's 2004 book Trump: How to Get Rich, he wrote: 'After getting to know Matthew, I realized he had a lot more to offer than his job title warranted.'
Calamari told Bloomberg News in 2015 that he didn't want to get into the security industry and instead wanted be a professional football linebacker.
But he suffered a knee injury that ended his career early.
'He promotes you until you fail,' Calamari said. 'There are no boundaries.'
Buzzfeed News reported that Calamari was in charge of Trump's surveillance operations at his golf clubs and hotels.
Calamari Jr. joined the Trump Organization in 2017. He graduated high school in 2011.
The senior Calamari has lived in an apartment at Trump Park Avenue in the Upper East Side for years and drives a Mercedes leased through the Trump Organization, according to the report. Miss South Carolina Courtney Hope Turner shows off her karate skills with Calamari in 2011
Calamari (back right) watches on during Trump's wedding to Marla Maples in 1993
Calamari, now the Trump Organization COO, and his son Matthew Calamari Jr, the corporate director of security, have not been accused of any wrongdoing. He is pictured with Don Jr in 2017
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