Trump Organization set for Manhattan criminal tax fraud trial

The Trump Organization is set to go to trial in Manhattan on Monday as former President Donald Trump's company faces criminal tax fraud charges.

The Trump company, but not Trump himself, is accused of helping some of their executives avoid paying income for benefits they received over and above their salaries, such as for rent-free apartments and luxury cars.

The trial will begin Monday with jury selection, the Associated Press reported. Former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg, who pleaded guilty in August to taking more than $1.7 million in untaxed benefits from the company, is expected to be the prosecution's star witness.

Democrat Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's case comes to trial more than three years after prosecutors in his office first started investigating Trump.

The former president's sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, have been in charge of the daily operations of the business since their father entered the Oval Office. The Trump Organization could face a fine of more than $1 million if convicted.

Judge Juan Manuel Merchan expects the trial to take four weeks after the jury is seated, the wire service reported.

The case is separate from New York Democrat Attorney General Letitia James' civil lawsuit accusing the former president and his business of misleading banks about the value of assets.

Trump has slammed both investigations as political attacks.