In opening statements, Manhattan prosecutors promised the ‘inside story’ from former Trump Organization money man Allen Weisselberg.
NEW YORK — Convicted ex-Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg will give the “inside story” of how the company allegedly used years-long tax fraud scheme to boost executive pay, Manhattan prosecutors said Monday.
The teaser came during opening remarks in the firm’s long-awaited New York Supreme Court criminal trial — one case in an increasingly complex web of legal woes for former President Donald Trump. The former president is not involved in the case, but the charges could lead to financial penalties for the Trump Organization if a jury finds it engaged in a 15-year scheme to pay Weisselberg off the books.
“This case is about greed and cheating, cheating on taxes,” Susan Hoffinger, the chief of investigations for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, told the court on Monday. “The scheme was conducted, directed and authorized at the highest level of the accounting department.” Weisselberg’s testimony “will give you the inside story of how he conducted this tax scheme.”
In opening statements, Hoffinger detailed allegations that Trump personally paid private school tuition for Weisselberg’s grandchildren and signed a lease for the top lieutenant’s Upper West Side apartment overlooking the Hudson River, because he wanted him to live in Manhattan rather than commuting from Long Island.
Trump Corp. attorney Susan Necheles, meanwhile, tried to insulate the former president and urged the jury not to let their opinions of Trump cloud their judgment.
“You must not consider this case to be a referendum on President Trump or his politics,” she said. “It started and it ended with Allen Weisselberg. Allen Weisselberg did this.”
Weisselberg pleaded guilty in August to all 15 counts he faced, including tax fraud and larceny. Now he’ll play star witness in the expected month-long trial, where prosecutors must convince a jury that Trump Org. units — the Trump Corporation and Trump Payroll Corporation — share responsibility for concealing $1.76 million in compensation.
Necheles claimed Weisselberg was only implicating the company to avoid a lengthy prison sentence. If he fulfills his plea agreement and testifies truthfully, he is expected to be sentenced to five months on Rikers Island. Should he violate the deal, he could face up to 15 years in prison.
……..
- Discussion
-
Convicted ex-Trump Org CFO Allen Weisselberg will give the “inside story” of how the company allegedly used years-long tax fraud scheme to boost executive pay, Manhattan prosecutors said in the criminal trial that kicked off today.https://t.co/wng04AkIlj
— POLITICO (@politico) October 31, 2022
Jury shown Weisselberg lease signed by Trump himself https://t.co/TGaOh2ukHa pic.twitter.com/kdeRDMlExz
— The Hill (@thehill) November 2, 2022
Allen Weisselberg would be foolish not to tell all he knows. This is part of the deal he made with the prosecution. Renege on that deal and he will be going down big time. Would he really lie or not tell what he knows out of loyalty to the guy who would not do the same for him?
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.