Former CFO may be asked to testify against Trump organization in court
Article author:
A longtime senior manager at former President Donald Trump's family business is expected to plead guilty Thursday to charges of colluding with the company in 15 years of tax evasion. .
Allen Weisselberg, former chief financial officer of the Trump Organization, plans to file a petition in New York state court in Manhattan before Judge Juan Marchan.
He may be called upon to testify against the Trump organization at trial, but he is not expected to cooperate with Manhattan prosecutors, including Trump's own larger investigation.
34}
A grand jury last year indicted Weisselberg, 75, for hiding $1.76 million in "off-the-books" income.
This included the rent for a Manhattan apartment, the lease of two Mercedes-Benz cars, and the family's tuition, with Trump himself signing a tuition check.
Weisselberg said he was likely sentenced to five months in prison and could be released after about 100 days, another person familiar with the matter said. .
This is not a plea of guilt, but rather a state prison sentence he could face if convicted on trial for charges against him, including grand theft. much shorter than the many years in Fraud, conspiracy, tax evasion, falsification of business records.
Weisselberg is expected to plead guilty to all charges facing him, his second person said.
A spokesman for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg declined to comment. A lawyer for Weisselberg and a spokeswoman for the Trump Organization declined to comment.
Last Friday, Merchan rejected the defense's motion to dismiss the charges, citing the allegation that the defendant was "selectively prosecuted" and his failure to oppose his long-time boss Weisselberg. denied the allegation that it was targeted.
Trump's companies manage golf clubs, hotels and other real estate around the world.
The company has pleaded not guilty and could face fines and other penalties if found guilty at trial.
Jury selection will begin on his October 24th, 15 days before the November 8th midterm elections, with Trump's Republicans hoping to retake both houses of Congress from Democrats. I'm in.
Mr. Trump has not been indicted and he has yet to say whether he plans to run for the White House again in 2024.
Mr. Weisselberg has worked for Mr. Trump for almost half a century.
He resigned from his position as CFO after he and the Trump Organization were indicted in July 2021, but remains on Trump's payroll as a senior advisor.
Indictment The letter, which stemmed from an investigation by former Manhattan district attorney Cyrus Vance, fizzled out after Bragg became district attorney in January.
Two of his prosecutors who were leading the investigation resigned in his February, and one said Trump should be indicted for felony charges, but Mr Bragg raised his suspicions.
Trump faces many other legal battles.
Last week, FBI agents searched the former US president's home for classified documents and other documents from his tenure.
Two days later, Mr. Trump was deposed in Letitia, New York, in a civil investigation into his business by Attorney General James, citing his Fifth Amendment right to self-incrimination. , repeatedly refused to answer questions.
You'll get the latest headlines, stories, opinions and photos of Toronto His Sun straight from the newsroom to your inbox at noon.
Thank you for registering.
Welcome sending his email. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder.
The next issue of Your Midday Sun will arrive in your mailbox shortly.