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New York — Donald A longtime senior executive at the Trump family business pleaded guilty Thursday to helping the company concoct a 15-year tax evasion. He was a financial director and filed petitions on all 15 charges he faced in New York state court in Manhattan.
Weisselberg, who has worked for Trump for nearly half a century, is not expected to cooperate with Manhattan prosecutors in the massive investigation being conducted against Trump.
But his plea could strengthen their claims against the former president's firm, which controls golf clubs, hotels and other real estate around the world.
"This plea bargain demonstrates direct involvement of the Trump Organization in a wide range of criminal activities and requires Weisselberg to provide valuable testimony at the upcoming trial," said Manhattan. District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement. "We look forward to proving our case in court."
In a statement, a spokeswoman for the Trump Organization called Weisselberg "a man who has been criticized by law enforcement, particularly the Manhattan District Attorney." He called himself a "good and good man" who had been harassed, persecuted and threatened in his never-ending politically motivated quest. to win President Trump.
She also said the company had done nothing wrong and was looking forward to that day in court.
Trump Organization has pleaded not guilty and could face fines and other penalties if convicted. Donald Trump, who has been embroiled in numerous legal battles, has not been charged or accused of wrongdoing in the case.
Jury selection is scheduled to begin on his October 24th, two weeks before the November 8th midterm elections. In the midterm elections, Trump's Republicans hope to retake both houses of Congress from Democrats.
Trump has yet to reveal whether he plans to run for another White House run in 2024.
Five months with the Rikers
In July 2021, prosecutors accused the Trump Organization and Weisselberg of fraud, tax evasion, and falsification of business records to award "off the books" perks to senior management.
Weisselberg was accused of hiding and evading taxes on income of $1.76 million.
This included the rent of a Manhattan apartment, the lease of two Mercedes-Benz cars, and tuition fees for relatives, for which Trump signed a tuition check.
Weisselberg's plea bargain is that he will serve five months in prison on Rikers Island, but may be released after 100 days. It also included five years of probation and $1.99 million in taxes, fines and interest payments.
Prison sentences will begin after the Trump Organization's trial is over. If found guilty at trial, Weisselberg could face 15 years in prison, including for grand theft.
At Thursday's hearing, Weisselberg removed his mask and Judge Juan Merchan each explained his indictment. Weisselberg agreed that the accusations against him were true.
Weisselberg's attorney, Nicholas Gravante, said in his statement: Put an end to this incident and the years of legal and personal nightmare it caused for him and his family.
Weisselberg resigned as CFO after being indicted, but remains on Trump's payroll as a senior adviser. and rejected the allegations that the accused were "selectively prosecuted" and that Weisselberg was targeted because he did not speak out against his longtime boss.
Probe" Ongoing.”
The indictment stemmed from an investigation by former Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, but lost steam after Bragg became a district attorney in January.
Two prosecutors leading the investigation resigned in February, and one said Trump should be charged with a felony, but Mr Bragg
In a statement Thursday, Bragg said an investigation was ongoing. His office declined to comment on the Trump Organization's harassment accusations.
Trump faces several investigations into his business and political activism.
Last week, FBI agents searched his home for classified and other documents from his White House days.
Two days after him, Mr. Trump was ousted in a civil investigation into his Attorney General James Leticia, New York, for whether he misled banks and tax authorities about the assets of his own business. rice field.
He repeatedly refused to answer his questions, citing his Fifth Amendment right to self-incrimination.
James is helping Bragg with his criminal investigation.
"Let this guilty plea send a clear message: We will crack down on those who steal from the public for personal gain," James said in a statement. (He in New York reported by Karen Freifeld; additional reporting by Jonathan Stempel; editing by Alistair Bell and Daniel Wallis)