Trump Media's Auditor Ordered to Pay $14 Million Penalty Over Fraudulent Practices

By Thea Felicity

May 03, 2024 11:08 AM EDT

Donald Trump Is No Longer on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index as Truth Social Stock Continues to Fall Further
Donald Trump is no longer on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, as shares of Trump Media & Technology Group, the parent company behind the former president's social media platform Truth Social, continue to slip in recent days.
(Photo : OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images)

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has brought charges of "massive fraud" against the auditing firm responsible for Trump Media, revealing a breach that impacted over 1,500 filings. 

According to CNBC, BF Borgers CPA and its owner, Benjamin Borgers, have accepted permanent suspension from practicing as an accountant before the SEC and will pay a total of $14 million in civil penalties. 

This development has sent shockwaves through the financial markets, raising doubts about the accuracy of financial data in thousands of reports, including those filed by Trump Media.

READ NEXT: Donald Trump Secures Another $1.6 Billion Worth of Shares in Trump Media

The Fraud Activities Made By Trump Media Auditor

The fraudulent activities committed by BF Borgers CPA and its owner, Benjamin Borgers, as outlined by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), include deliberate and systemic failures to comply with Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) standards, both in audits and reviews, incorporated in more than 1,500 SEC filings from January 2021 through June 2023. 

They were also charged with falsely assuring clients that their work complied with PCAOB standards, fabricating audit documents to create the appearance of compliance, and falsely stating in audit reports included in over 500 public company SEC filings that their audits met PCAOB standards. 

The SEC deemed these actions a "sham audit mill" and a severe breach of trust within financial markets.

The fallout from these charges has already begun, with Trump Media's stock plummeting 9% in early trading.

READ MORE: Trump Media CEO Calls for GOP Investigation Into Potential Short Selling by Eight Financial Firms

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