Trump Media and Technology Group, the owner of social networking site Truth Social, has fired an auditor that federal regulators recently charged with “massive fraud.” The former president’s media company dismissed BF Borgers as its independent public accounting firm, according to a securities filing — which also notes that Trump Media engaged with Arizona-based accountant Semple, Marchal & Cooper as BF Borgers’ replacement over the weekend.
Quick Read
- Auditor Fired: Trump Media and Technology Group has dismissed BF Borgers, their independent public accounting firm, following charges of “massive fraud” by federal regulators.
- New Auditor Engaged: The company has quickly engaged Semple, Marchal & Cooper, based in Arizona, to replace BF Borgers over the weekend.
- SEC Charges: The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged BF Borgers and its owner with severe auditing failures across over 1,500 audits, leading to $14 million in civil penalties and permanent suspensions from SEC-related accounting activities.
- Brief Association: BF Borgers had a brief stint with Trump Media, having been named as the auditor on March 28, shortly before the SEC’s charges were announced.
- Audit History and Changes: Trump Media has experienced several changes in auditors in recent times, cycling through multiple firms prior to re-hiring and then firing BF Borgers.
- Future Actions: Trump Media’s decision to change auditors was recommended by the Audit Committee of the Company, and further actions, including a potential review of BF Borgers’ previous work, are under consideration.
The Associated Press has the story:
Trump Media fires auditing firm that US regulators have charged with ‘massive fraud’
Newslooks- NEW YORK (AP) —
Trump Media and Technology Group, the owner of social networking site Truth Social, has fired an auditor that federal regulators recently charged with “massive fraud.”
The former president’s media company dismissed BF Borgers as its independent public accounting firm, according to a securities filing — which also notes that Trump Media engaged with Arizona-based accountant Semple, Marchal & Cooper as BF Borgers’ replacement over the weekend.
BF Borgers’ dismissal arrived on the same day that the Securities and Exchange Commission charged the firm and its owner Benjamin F. Borgers with “deliberate and systematic failures” in more than 1,500 audits.
The charges, which include failing to abide by accounting rules and fabricating documentation to cover up its shortcomings, do not involve any work that BF Borgers performed for Trump Media. To settle the charges, BF Borgers and Borgers agreed to pay a combined $14 million in civil penalties as well as permanent suspensions effective immediately, set to prevent them from handling SEC-related matters as accountants.
BF Borgers’ time with Trump Media was brief. It named the Colorado firm as its auditor on March 28, according to a recent annual report filing. At the time, Trump Media disclosed that BF Borgers had also handled its audits before it went public by merging with shell company Digital World Acquisition Corp.
Trump Media had previously cycled through at least two other auditors — one that resigned in July 2023, and another that was terminated its the board in March, just as it was re-hiring BF Borgers.
In its regulatory filing, Trump Media said that “the decision to change independent registered public accounting firms was made with the recommendation and approval of the Audit Committee of the Company.” The Associated Press’ reached out to the company for further comment Monday, including on whether Semple, Marchal & Cooper would review BF Borgers’ previous work for Trump Media.
BF Borgers and Semple, Marchal & Cooper did not immediately respond to requests’ for statement.
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