The Latest Developments in the Trump Civil Fraud Trial: Perjury Allegations Against Allen Weisselberg and Potential Plea Deal
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 10: Former Trump Organization Executive Allen Weisselberg sits in the courtroom during the civil fraud trial of former President Donald Trump at New York State Supreme Court on October 10, 2023 in New York City. The former president may be forced to sell off his properties after his business certificates were canceled by Justice Arthur Engoron after ruling that he committed fraud for years while building his real estate empire, in a lawsuit brought by New York State Attorney General Letitia James, who is seeking $250 million in damages. Former Trump Organization Executive Allen Weisselberg, who is also a defendant in the lawsuit, is set to testify today after pleading guilty last year to 15 felony charges related to a long-running scheme to avoid $1.7 million in taxes while working for the Trump Organization. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
The ongoing civil fraud trial against former President Donald Trump and his organization, the Trump Organization, has taken an unexpected turn with the latest developments regarding Allen Weisselberg, the former chief financial officer of the company. According to reports, Weisselberg is in negotiations to plead guilty to perjury for his testimony in the trial, which was given under oath.
The judge in the case, Arthur Engoron, has indicated that he is considering how this potential plea deal might impact his final ruling in the case. In a letter to the lawyers for Trump and the New York Attorney General’s Office, Engoron asked for guidance on how to handle the report in the New York Times that Weisselberg is in talks to plead guilty to perjury.
Weisselberg’s testimony in the trial, which began in November 2022, was cut short after Forbes published an article claiming he had lied under oath regarding the valuation of Trump’s penthouse apartment in Trump Tower. The magazine reported that financial statements had described the apartment as much larger and worth hundreds of millions of dollars more than its true size and value.
Weisselberg testified that he “never focused” on the valuation of the triplex apartment, but emails obtained by Forbes from years earlier showed that he played a key role in supporting the apartment’s false valuation. Weisselberg has been in negotiations with the Manhattan district attorney to plead guilty to perjury for this testimony.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office declined to comment on the matter, and James’ office also declined to comment. Attorneys for the defendants did not reply to requests for comment.
Engoron’s ruling in the case was initially expected by January 31, but it has been delayed due to shortcomings and discrepancies in the Trump Organization’s recent financial disclosures. The judge has already found Trump and the other defendants liable for fraud, but he has yet to rule on other related allegations that were the subject of the trial. Trump and his co-defendants have all denied wrongdoing.
The potential perjury charge against Weisselberg could have significant implications for the case. Engoron indicated in his letter to lawyers that “other topics could also be called into question” if Weisselberg admits to perjury. The judge might conclude that the entirety of Weisselberg’s hours-long testimony was not credible.
Engoron gave attorneys until Wednesday at 5 p.m. to submit a letter to him detailing anything they know about the matter that would not violate any professional ethics or obligations. The judge also requested guidance on how he should address the matter, if at all, and the timing of his final decision.
The civil fraud trial against Trump and the Trump Organization is just one of several investigations and legal proceedings against the former president. In January 2023, a federal appeals court ruled that Trump is not immune from prosecution in a criminal case related to the 2020 election. Trump is also facing investigations in Georgia and New York related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
The potential perjury charge against Weisselberg adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing civil fraud trial against Trump and the Trump Organization. The outcome of the case could have significant implications for the former president and his organization, as well as the broader political landscape.
In conclusion, the latest developments in the Trump civil fraud trial, including the potential perjury charge against Allen Weisselberg and his negotiations to plead guilty, could have significant implications for the case and the broader political landscape. The outcome of the trial, which has already seen Trump and his co-defendants found liable for fraud, could have significant consequences for the former president and his organization. The judge’s ruling on the matter is expected in the coming days, and the outcome will be closely watched by legal observers and the public alike.
