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Notes -
Sounds kind of like legal expenses, him being Trump's lawyer and all.
If I hire a contractor to build me a deck, then log the total bill as 'building expenses', am I committing fraud for not putting down 'lumber', 'nails', 'wages', and 'contractor margins' on my own books?
I certainly wouldn't recommend arguing in court that the contractor built your deck of his own accord and that you didn't ask him to do it.
Interestingly there was a case like this in BC awhile back -- it seemed like some contractors were trying to curry favour with the premier (who they knew personally), so they built him a deck and then refused to send him a bill!
I don't think it ever went to court, although he did get voted out over it. (among other things)
In this situation, I suppose cutting the guy a cheque for what you think the services were worth (whether he likes it or not) is kind of the right thing to do -- otherwise it looks like a bribe.
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