UNITED STATES: Allen Weisselberg, a veteran executive at former President Donald Trump’s family business, is expected to appear in court and enter a guilty plea on Thursday, following reports of his involvement with the company in a 15-year tax fraud conspiracy. The former Trump Organization CFO is expected to enter a plea before Justice Juan Merchan in Manhattan’s New York state court.
An inner source revealed that while Weisselberg is not expected to cooperate with Manhattan prosecutors, including in a larger probe incriminating Trump himself, he may be required to testify against the Trump organization at trial.
Last year, a grand jury indicted 75-year-old Weisselberg for hiding $1.76 millions of “off-the-books” income. The hefty amount included rent for a Manhattan apartment, lease payments for two Mercedes-Benz vehicles and tuition money for family members, with Trump’s signature on those checks.
Another source stated that Weisselberg might be given a sentence of five months in jail, bailable after 100 days.
This sentence is far shorter than the many years he could likely face in prison if he appeared at a trial and pleaded guilty to the charges against him, including robbery, fraud scheming, conspiracy, tax fraud and falsifying business records. Weisselberg is expected to face all the charges against him and plead guilty, the second source added.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s spokesperson declined to comment on this issue. Similarly, Weisselberg’s lawyer and a Trump Organization spokeswoman refused to comment.
Last Friday, Justice Merchan denied defence motions to dismiss the indictment, rejecting arguments that the defendants had been “selectively prosecuted” and that Weisselberg was targeted because he would not turn on his boss.
Trump’s company juggles posh golf clubs, upscale hotels and real estate worldwide. The company has pleaded not guilty but could be subjected to fines and penalties if convicted at trial.
Weisselberg has long been closely associated with the Trump Organization and his family business, working for the former President for nearly half a century. He relinquished the CFO job after he and the Trump organization were indicted in July last year but retains his spot on Trump’s payroll as a senior adviser and executive.
The indictment arose from a probe by former Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, but it hit a dead end when Bragg became District Attorney in January.
Two prosecutors in the case resigned in February, with one saying that felony charges must be brought against Trump, but Bragg doubts it.
Trump continues to find himself in legal trouble. Just last week, FBI agents raided the former President’s lavish Palm Beach home, Mar-a-Lago, to unearth classified and sensitive documents from his time in office.
Two days later, Trump was deposed in New York Attorney General Letitia James’ civil probe into his business but consistently refused to answer any queries, stubbornly citing his Fifth Amendment U.S. Constitutional right against self-incrimination.
Also Read: FBI Retrieves Sensitive Secret Files from Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Residence
